Minister of Social Affairs Visits Maluku, Ensures Basic Needs

AMBON (September 30, 2019) - Minister of Social Affairs Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita visited earthquake survivors at the Hatukau Field evacuation site, Batu Merah Village, Sirimau District, Ambon City, Monday.

"I came on the orders of the President to see firsthand the handling efforts made by the central government as well as provincial, city, and regency governments in fulfilling the basic needs of survivors," said the Minister.

He said President Joko Widodo emphasized that immediately after the disaster, the handling of affected residents is a priority. These basic needs include clothing, food, and shelter.

For this reason, he continued, assistance in the form of logistics, compensation to the heirs of the dead, and regular rice assistance has been distributed to ease the burden on survivors.

The initial stage of assistance for Maluku was in the form of 1,600 ready-to-eat food packages, 3 units of multipurpose family tents, 200 pieces of roll tents, 200 veldbed units, 200 mattresses, 350 pieces of blankets, 350 clothing packages, 200 kids ware packages, 100 food ware packages, 200 family kitchen equipment packages. The total initial logistical assistance amounted to IDR 800,916,000.

In addition to providing logistical assistance, he continued, the Ministry of Social Affairs also prepared compensation for the heirs of 30 people who died (data up to Friday, 9/27). The amount of compensation for each death victim is IDR 15 million.

"So that the total emergency response assistance, namely logistics and compensation for the heirs of the dead victims for Maluku in this first stage is IDR 1.3 billion," said the Minister.

After symbolically handing over the assistance, in his direction the Minister conveyed condolences from President Joko Widodo to residents whose family members died in this earthquake.

The Minister assured residents affected by the earthquake that they were not alone in facing this disaster. The central government and local governments will work together to help residents. After handing over the assistance, the Minister also visited the injured victims treated at Dr. M. Haulusi Hospital followed by a review.

As is known, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook Maluku on Thursday (26/9) at 06.46 pm local time.

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded the parameters 40 kilometers northeast of Ambon City with a depth of 10 km. This earthquake has no tsunami potential.

BMKG said that the earthquake was felt in the Ambon and Kairatu areas on an intensity scale of V MMI, in Paso II-III MMI and Banda II MMI.

Furthermore, BMKG also released an aftershock with parameter M 5.6. The aftershock occurred at 07.39 pm local time with parameters 18 Km northeast of Ambon-Maluku with a depth of 10 Km.

The National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) recorded that up to Monday (30/9) at 12:00 a.m. the number of casualties was 34 people.

A total of 6 people were seriously injured, 150 people suffered minor injuries, and 136,780 people were displaced.

The earthquake also caused 698 houses damaged, 2 bridges damaged, 16 places of worship, and one road damaged.

Meanwhile, accompanying the Minister of Social Affairs on this working visit were the Governor of Maluku, the Mayor of Ambon, Director General of Social Security Harry Hikmat, Inspector General Dadang Iskandar, Ministerial Senior Advisor Sonny W Manalu, and Ministerial Special Staff Febri Hendri.

Acting Head of Public Relations Bureau RI Ministry of Social Affairs
Sonny W. Manalu