Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf emphasized that the victims of the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in East Flores district, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), are receiving proper and adequate social assistance.
In a press release issued in Jakarta on Tuesday, the ministry said that it has also deployed disaster preparedness cadets (Tagana) to evacuate victims and set up a public kitchen.
"We have distributed the assistance since yesterday (Monday). Today (Tuesday), the Deputy Minister (Wamensos) also went to the location to give assistance for the victims," the minister, who is also known as Gus Ipul, informed.
He added that the Disaster Preparedness Village (KSB) formed by the ministry has also set up an independent kitchen to help evacuees.
So far, a team from the Directorate of Social Protection for Natural Disaster Victims (PSKBA) of the ministry has been working in the field, coordinating with the Social Service and the local government.
The ministry has also sent three truckloads of logistics aid worth Rp1.2 billion from the Kupang Effata Center Warehouse, including 1,500 ready-to-eat food packages, one thousand children's food packages, 400 mattresses, 500 blankets, 300 family kits, 300 kids ware packages, and 400 roll-up tents.
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Yusuf said that his ministry has also sent 10 multipurpose tents and 2 portable toilets to support evacuation facilities, and it will distribute 10 thousand masks and 2,500 basic food packages worth Rp500 million to affected residents.
Meanwhile, for the kin of the deceased victims, the ministry has prepared compensation of Rp135 million. Psychosocial support services will also be provided to evacuees to support their mental health recovery.
A major eruption was recorded in Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki at 11:57 p.m. local time on November 3, 2024, which led the authorities to raise the status of the mountain from Level III (Alert) to Level IV (Warning).
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Head of the East Flores district also declared an emergency response status for 58 days — from November 4 to December 31.
The eruption severely affected seven villages in Wulanggitang sub-district and one village in Ilebura sub-district.
It left 10 people dead and 63 people injured. Of the injured, 31 have been seriously injured and 32 have been lightly injured.
The eruption forced around 2,472 people to flee to three centralized evacuation points: 1,219 people went to Konga village; 606 to Bokang village; and 647 to Hokeng.