Social Assistance Begins to Be Distributed to Mount Ruang Victims

The aid departed from the Limited Patrol Unit Port in Bitung, Manado, heading towards Tagulandang Island using the Indonesian Navy's Warship KRI Kakap 811. The journey took 6 hours on Friday (19/4/2024).

I took the orphan to (a center in) Makassar or Manado, he didn't want to.

Upon arriving at the port on Tagulandang Island, the logistical assistance was transported to the evacuation site located approximately 5 kilometers away. The transportation was assisted by using vehicles owned by the local community on a voluntary basis.

"In addition to delivering logistics aid, we also brought nurses and psychologists. We collaborated with the local health department to handle refugees," said Meerada on Saturday (20/4/2024).

The aid brought to the location was in the form of 800 packages of ready-to-eat food, 500 packages of ready-to-eat side dishes, 500 packages of children's food, 100 blankets, 200 packages of adult clothing, 150 packages of children's clothing, 160 family kits. , kids wear 100 packages, 100 roll-up tents, 20 portable family tents, and 5 multi-purpose tents.

The Ministry of Social Affairs also brought an additional five generator sets to assist in lighting at evacuation sites. This is because the volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Ruang has caused temporary power outages by PLN to prevent fires.

In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs also set up tents for public kitchens and refugee logistics storage in Apengsala Village, Sitaro Islands Regency. All of this assistance is intended for around 826 residents from two villages at the foot of Mount Ruang, namely Laingpatihe Village and Pumpete Village who have evacuated to Tagulandang Island.

"To meet the needs of public kitchens, the Ministry of Social Affairs has prepared one ton of rice, 900 kilograms of eggs, as well as a public kitchen car that has started operating since last Friday," he said.

Assistance to Tana Toraja

Meanwhile, in Tana Toraja Regency, South Sulawesi, the Ministry of Social Affairs also provided aid to around 104 displaced persons affected by the landslide disaster that occurred on Saturday night (13/4/2024) in Manggau Village, Makale District and Lembang Randan Batu Village, South Makale District.

The aid provided consists of 2 units of multipurpose tents and 15 units of family tents. One unit of the multipurpose tent functions as a support for public kitchen activities, such as the management of natural materials. One unit of the multipurpose tent is for psychosocial services, and the 15 units of family tents are recorded as stock that can be used at any time, considering the number of refugees and the threat of subsequent landslides.

Also read: Beware of the Potential for a Tsunami due to the Eruption of Mount Ruang

This public kitchen can cook up to 1,200 packages of rice every day which are divided into three distributions. Other logistical assistance includes folding mattresses, blankets, children's food, family equipment or family kits, even family tents for the refugees. The total value of the assistance provided is IDR 713.6 million.

This disaster has caused the death of 20 people, 16 of whom are from the Manggau district and 4 from the Lembang Randan Batu village. Meanwhile, 2 people suffered minor injuries and 7 houses were destroyed and buried by landslides.

Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini offered victims who were still school age to live in the nearest Ministry of Social center. Apart from that, Risma also offers business capital to families who are responsible for raising children whose parents have abandoned them.

Despite this, the majority of refugees refuse to leave because they feel it is difficult to leave their homeland. They ask to be given capital to continue their lives.

One of them is Ryan (15). This teenager lost both parents due to a landslide. Ryan's youngest sibling also became a victim and is currently hospitalized.

To Ryan, Risma offered to stay at the Social Ministry Center in Manado or Makassar, but he refused. "Yes, I just asked for pig farming," said Ryan.

Also read: The eruption of Mount Ruang appears to be subsiding, 6 kilometer radius is still prohibited from entering

"I took the orphan to (a center in) Makassar or Manado, he didn't want to," said Risma.

He said that residents who live in centers are more assured of meeting their food needs. However, residents choose to raise pigs.

"Later we will help with pig farming," said Risma.

In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs also provides compensation to the families of deceased victims and injured victims. Each family of the deceased victims receives compensation of Rp 15 million for a total of 20 people, while each injured victim receives compensation of Rp 5 million for a total of two people. The total amount of compensation given is Rp 310 million.