Social Affairs Minister Empowers Communities in 3T Areas

JAKARTA (2 November 2023) - Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini is paying special attention to empowering people living in Disadvantaged, Frontier and Outermost (3T) areas, including in North Kalimantan Province. To empower the community, the Minister visited and assisted Krayan District, Nunukan Island and Sebatik Island, Nunukan Regency on Thursday and Friday (2-3 November 2023).

"Those areas are a priority for the Minister's visit because it is included in 3T areas that require assistance based on community needs," said the Acting Head of the Public Relations Bureau of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Supomo in Nunukan Regency, Thursday (2/11).

Krayan sub-district, for example, which is at an altitude of 1,000-1,600 above sea level (asl), directly borders Sarawak, Malaysia and can only be accessed by helicopter or small plane from Nunukan Airport. This sub-district, which covers an area of 777.9 km² or wider than the Jakarta area, is inhabited by 3,458 people spread across 23 villages. As for Sebatik Island, which belongs to Indonesia and Malaysia, it can only be reached using sea transportation.

In this border area, the Minister came with several types of assistance needed by the community according to the results of the assessment. This assistance includes Solar Powered Public Street Lighting (PJUTS), school supplies, computers and seaweed drying machines.

The assistance was handed over by the Minister in Krayan District on Thursday, while the aid for Nunukan Island and Sebatik Island will be handed over on Friday 3 November. In Nunukan and Sebatik Island, the Minister will also witness the process of turning on PJUTS, building dormitories and renovating uninhabitable houses.