BANDUNG REGENCY (September 19, 2024) – The Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) has distributed various aid to victims affected by the earthquake in Bandung Regency, West Java. In addition to setting up evacuee tents and public kitchens, MoSA, through the Abiyoso Center in Cimahi, provided food and logistics assistance to the earthquake survivors. “Aid distribution began on Wednesday afternoon,” said Ema Salwa, Head of the Administrative Subsection of the Abiyoso Center, on Thursday (19/9).


    The 5.0-magnitude earthquake, with a depth of 10 kilometers, struck Bandung Regency on Wednesday (18/9) at around 09.41 a.m. local time.


    Although the earthquake was not very strong, its shallow depth resulted in 23 injuries and displaced 1,123 people. Additionally, 3,982 houses, 132 public facilities, and places of worship were affected across four districts: Pacet, Majalaya, Kertasari, and Pangalengan.


    MoSA, through the Abiyoso Center in Cimahi and the Directorate of Social Protection for Natural Disaster Affected People (PSKBA), responded with emergency relief, distributing assistance to the earthquake survivors. The aid included 4 multipurpose tents, 71 portable family tents, 40 tarps, 230 mattresses, 80 ready-to-eat meal packages, 100 children's food packages, 370 blankets, 290 family kits, 290 sets of kids' clothing, and two solar cell units for lighting.


    Additional logistics were provided through the West Java Provincial Social Office, including 2 multipurpose tents, 150 rolled tents, 20 family tents, 125 mattresses, 250 blankets, 700 ready-to-eat meal packages, 400 children's food packages, 75 family kits, 75 sets of kids' clothing, and two portable toilets. The MoSA distributed IDR 1.5 billion in total aid in response to the Bandung earthquake.


    In addition to meeting the basic needs, MoSA collaborated with the Disaster Response Volunteers (Tagana) and social companions to build evacuee tents and set up public kitchens. “The public kitchen started operating today, September 19, 2024,” said Iyan Mul, Coordinator of Tagana Bandung Regency, on Thursday (19/9).


    The public kitchen, located in the courtyard of the Kertasari District Office, serves 6,000 meal packages twice daily. MoSA, in partnership with the Social Office and the Bandung Regency's Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Office, provides clean water using water tank trucks. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Bandung Regency's PUPR Office have given 8 portable toilets with water tanks for evacuees' sanitation needs.