Minister of Social Affairs Ensures All Earthquake Victims in Sukabumi and Bogor are Handled

SUKABUMI (March 12nd 2020) - The earthquake that occurred in Sukabumi and Bogor on Tuesday (10/3) received a quick response from the Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara. The earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 at 17:18 WIB affected damage to buildings in Sukabumi and Bogor, West Java.

The areas affected by the earthquake were Pamijahan District, covering Pasarean, Cibunian, Purwabakti, Mount Bunder I, Ciasmara, Ciasihan, and Cibitung Kulon Villages.

The Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara admitted that he had deployed all social elements owned by the Ministry of Social Affairs such as the Disaster Preparedness Cadets (Tagana), the Family Hope Program (PKH) companion, Social Worker Service Unit and TKSK and the trauma healing team to help residents affected by the earthquake.

"As soon as I heard about the earthquake, I immediately ordered all elements of the Ministry of Social Affairs to move together with related agencies to help the affected communities," said the Minister of Social Affairs in his press release today.

The Minister of Social Affairs explained that the Ministry of Social Affairs also provided assistance worth IDR 528,743,135 for Sukabumi and Bogor Regencies. The assistance was in the form of logistical assistance and basic food packages which were given directly to the residents there.

"I have ordered the Director of Social Protection for Natural Disaster Victims to visit the affected locations today. We make sure that all residents get assistance because this is our commitment to realizing the Ministry of Social Affairs to be present in the community," said the former chairman of the Indonesian Motor Association (IMI) for two periods.

Based on temporary data from the apparatus in the Pamijahan sub-district, it was recorded that there were 611 houses damaged, including slightly damaged (RR) 487 houses, moderately damaged (RS) 80 houses, and severely damaged (RB) 44 houses.

Director of Social Protection for Natural Disaster Victims, Rachmat Koesnadi, said that the preparedness of the West Java Social Services Agency resources had also mobilized all its personnel to help disaster victims including issuing bufferstocks in the form of 50 packages of side dishes, 2,000 packs of instant noodles, 20 sheets of rolled tents, 50 sheets of blankets, clothing. 15 packages, 10 packages of family kits, 10 packages of kitchen utensils, 10 packages of foodware, 10 packages of kids ware.

"All of the buffestocks has already given to the affected people," said Rachmat.

Rachmat added that the government also issued a logistical reserve in the warehouse of Sukabumi Regency worth IDR 118,046,650 consisting of 200 packets of ready-to-eat food, 100 packages of children's food, 10,000 packs of instant noodles, 30 packages of rolled tents, 50 sheets of blankets, 30 packages of clothing, 50 units of mattresses, 30 packages of family kits, 30 packages of kids ware.

Meanwhile, the logistical aid from the Ministry of Social Affairs warehouse in Bogor Regency is worth IDR 3,421,000 consisting of 24 packages of children's food, 800 packs of instant noodles, 30 packages of side dishes, 5 sheets of rolled tents.

Rachmat added that as many as 200 personnel of Disaster Preparedness Cadets were deployed by the Ministry of Social Affairs to collect data on victims, evacuate victims to safe places, especially to vulnerable groups consisting of the elderly, children, people with disabilities, and other special groups.

Disaster Preparedness Cadets is a social volunteer or Social Welfare Worker from the community who cares and is active in disaster management in the field of social protection. In carrying out his duties, one hour after the disaster, Disaster Preparedness Cadets must be at the disaster site.

Disaster Preparedness Cadets is one of the potential sources of social welfare whose contribution has been greatly felt in the handling of social welfare problems, especially in the context of disaster management since its inception in 2004.