Ministry of Social Affairs Sends Aid to Wamena

JAKARTA (October 2, 2019) - The Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs sent aid to Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Province after the social disaster of riots in the Wamena area on Monday, September 23.

"In the context of handling survivors after the riots in Wamena, the Ministry of Social Affairs provides services to fulfill basic needs in the form of logistical assistance for vulnerable groups and the restoration of residents' economic businesses," said Social AffairsMinister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita in Jakarta, Sunday.

Assistance is provided in the form of Public Kitchen Strengthening for 5,000 people, 1,500 Packages of Children's Clothing Equipment, 1,500 Packages of Men's Clothing Equipment, 1,500 Packages of Women's Clothing Equipment, 2,500 Mattresses, 1,500 Rolled Tents / tarpaulins, 2,500 Blankets, 100 units of Productive Economic Business Assistance.

The Ministry of Social Affairs will also distribute compensation to the heirs of the dead. The number of death victims is 32 people, while the compensation is IDR 15 million per person.

"The total assistance provided is IDR 3,890,500,000 in the form of logistical assistance, Productive Economic Business assistance and compensation for the heirs of the dead," explained the Minister.

This incident caused as many as 32 people died, 9,240 people were displaced, 77 people were injured, 224 cars burned, 150 motorbikes burned, 165 houses were damaged by fire, 20 office units were damaged, 456 units of residents' businesses were damaged.

For evacuees as many as 8,617 people are in Wamena spread across 25 posts. While 523 people took evacuees in five locations in Jayapura.

Currently, the Minister continued, the Team from the Social office of Jayapura Province and Jayawijaya Regency has established a public kitchen and manages a public kitchen to fulfill the evacuees food needs.

Meanwhile, Tagana, Family Hope Program (PKH) Facilitators and Sub-district Social Welfare Workers (TKSK) have been deployed to collect data on the death toll, damaged business premises, and the needs of survivors. The Psychosocial Support Service Team has also been deployed to the location to provide trauma healing in evacuees camps.

The Minister urged all parties to maintain tolerance among each other and stop violence, not easily provoked by hoax news so as to create harmony. This atmosphere is important in order to realize peace and residents in evacuees camps can immediately return to their homes.

"On behalf of the government, I express my deepest condolences for the casualties in this riot. May the families left behind be given strength and patience. We all hope that all parties can restrain themselves so that the atmosphere becomes conducive and residents can return to their usual activities," said the Minister.

Meanwhile, Director of Social Protection for Victims of Social Disaster (PSKBS) M. Safii Nasution has been in Wamena and directly reviewed the distribution of logistics for evacuees at the Oikumiarek Building in Wamena. Furthermore, he held a meeting with Wamena Regent Jhon R. Manua, Deputy Regent of Wamena Mathin Yogobi and the ranks of the Wamena district government.

At the meeting, the Director of PSKBS explained that assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs had sent logistical assistance to fulfill the basic needs of evacuees, prepare compensation, UEP assistance. To assist evacuees, the Ministry of Social Affairs also deployed a Psychosocial Support Service (LDP) team.

"The Ministry of Social Affairs will also add assistance for evacuees, namely six multipurpose tents, 100 velbeds and 100 mattresses," he said.

Wamena Regent Jhon R. Manua, who directly organized the logistical flow, expressed his gratitude for the presence of the Ministry of Social Affairs in supporting efforts to handle evacuees. According to the Regent, the logistical needs for food for evacuees in the next seven days are still sufficient.

Safii said, the Ministry of Social Affairs Logistics will be transported using a TNI Hercules aircraft and is in the process of preparing for delivery to Wamena.


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