Ministry of Social Affairs Distributes Aid for South Solok Flood, Rp. 1.6 Billion

JAKARTA (December 15th 2019) - The Ministry of Social Affairs distributed emergency response assistance in the flash flood disaster in South Solok Regency, West Sumatra Province.

"The Ministry of Social Affairs team has coordinated with the Social Service of West Sumatra Province and South Solok Regency for handling victims and observing the current situation. Next, we send social protection officers for victims of natural disasters from the center for a needs assessment," said the Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara in Jakarta, Sunday (15/12).

As is known, there were flash floods twice on November 20th and December 13th in the South Solok Regency area. Floods occurred in three sub-districts, namely Koto Parik Gadang Diateh District, Sungai Pagu District and Pauh Duo District.

The affected areas include Nagari Pakan Rabaa Timur, Nagari Pakan Rabaa Tengah, Nagari Pasar Muaro Labuah, Nagari Pasir Talang Selatan, Nagari Koto Baru, Nagari Pasir Talang, Nagari Lubuk Reset Aliang, Nagari Lubuk Kembali Aliang Selatan, and Nagari Lubuk Kembali Aliang Tangah.

Based on data from the Tagana South Solok District Control and Operations Center (Pusdalops), the flood resulted in one person dying, 622 people displaced, 26 houses damaged, and 1 bridge unit collapsed.

"Tagana, West Sumatra Province and South Solok Regency have set up emergency tents and evacuated victims to safe places as well as psychosocial support services. They also manage field public kitchens which are centered in the Muaro Labuah RTH evacuation," said Minister Ari.

He said, during a disaster, the task of the Ministry of Social Affairs is to activate a system that has been prepared for integrated natural disaster management. The system in question is the National Cluster coordinated by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) in which the Ministry of Social Affairs is in charge of the Protection and Evacuation Cluster and Logistics Cluster.

"The focus of handling is the evacuation of refugees to safe places, as well as vulnerable groups consisting of the elderly, children, people with disabilities, and other special groups," he said.

In the event of a disaster, after the local government determines the emergency response status, the Ministry of Social Affairs mobilizes all potential natural disaster management, namely the deployment of Tagana and Sahabat Tagana personnel, KSB, Disaster Preparedness Vehicles, supplies, evacuation tools, communication tools and systems, and cooperation government agencies and NGO’s.

For floods in South Solok Regency, emergency response assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs consists of Phase 1 Logistic Assistance submitted to the Social Service of South Solok Regency, Phase 2 Logistic Assistance given to the West Sumatra Province Social Service, 300 family cleaning equipment packages, 10 units of booster pump machines, 6 units of genset engine, 10 units of water suction pump and spiral hoses, 1,000 packages of basic foodstuffs, compensation for the heirs for one death victim Rp. 15 million.

"The total amount of all aid is Rp. 1.6 billion," he said.

Logistical assistance consists of food, evacuation equipment, family equipment and clothing. Goods were sent from the Ministry of Social's West Regional Warehouse in Palembang.