Ministry of Social Affairs Ensures that Vulnerable Groups of West Sulawesi Are Well-Served

MAMUJU (18 January 2021) - The Ministry of Social Affairs ensures that the needs of vulnerable groups of displaced victims of the earthquake in West Sulawesi are served and fulfilled.

The Director of Social Protection for Natural Disaster Victims (PSKBA), M. Safii Nasution, explained that the vulnerable groups of earthquake survivors consisting of the elderly, pregnant women and children will be placed in prepared tents.

"We put them in special tents that have adequate insulation and air circulation. We give this to them so they feel comfortable. Now, those who take refuge in tents are less suitable and spread out at a number of points, we will move them to the COVID-19 tents," he explained at Manakarra Stadium, Mamuju, West Sulawesi, Monday (18/1).

Rahayu (29), who is 6 months pregnant, feels the difference between staying in a COVID-19 tent owned by the Ministry of Social Affairs. "It's more comfortable because the tent has a wall, there are windows. It will be fresher because the air can change," she said.

Rahayu also said that the refugee camps at the Manakarra Stadium were very complete. "Here there are health facilities, public kitchens, toilets and bathrooms," she said.

In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs also provides food and other logistical needs, such as baby milk, ready-to-eat meal, pampers, for all earthquake survivors in West Sulawesi.

"It doesn't just stop there. We also conduct Psychosocial Support Services (LDP) for survivors to recover from trauma caused by the earthquake. They must pay attention to their mental condition," added Safii.

The Ministry of Social Affairs LDP team comes from elements of Tagana (Disaster Preparedness Cadets), District Social Welfare Workers (TKSK) and Human Resources for the Family Hope Program (PKH) with various backgrounds of expertise.

"This team consists of Social Workers, Social Counselors, and Psychologists. The officers deployed came from the head office, LDP team 10 people, 12 local Tagana and 6 TKSK people. Meanwhile, 17 people for PKH local facilitators," added Safii.

"The service mechanism provided during this pandemic will later be divided into small groups inside the Covid-19 tent according to the category of vulnerable groups, each with a maximum of 10 people per group. This is intended to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in refugee tents," he explained.

Safii explained that the services provided include counseling, games for children, giving quizzes and similar games so that they can forget about the trauma of this earthquake and return to normal life.

Safii estimates that currently there are around 1,500 to 2,000 refugees who have been outside the stadium since the devastating earthquake of magnitude 6.2 struck West Sulawesi.