MATARAM (November 11, 2020) - The Ministry of Social Affairs continues to be committed to helping victims of the 2018 earthquake in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). Director of Social Protection for Natural Disaster Victims (PSKBA) of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Muhammad Safii Nasution, explained that to realize this commitment, the government fulfilled the request of the Governor of NTB so that the government could disburse life insurance (jadup) phase II for earthquake victims.

“In the letter, it is stated that the jadup application will be carried out in stages and in accordance with the government's ability. We must understand that Indonesia is currently being hit by the COVID-19 outbreak. For this reason, the distribution of jadup is carried out according to the government's ability and is disbursed in stages," Safii explained to the media on the sidelines of reconciling the data for jadup recipients in NTB, Wednesday (11/11).

Safii added that the second phase of jadup disbursement of Rp89.36 billion will be given to people who have not received the jadup in phase I. It is recorded that as many as three districts, namely North Lombok Regency, East Lombok Regency, and Sumbawa Regency, whose residents have not received phase I jadup.

"The government hopes that this assistance can ease their burden during the pandemic," said Safii.

To ensure that the Jadup assistance is right on target, Safii asked the local government to collect data correctly (by name by address) for those who are entitled to it in the three districts. To that end, the Ministry of Social Affairs also involves the Department of Population and Civil Registration (Disdukcapil) as the verifier and data validation party.

"We, together with the Social Office and Disdukcapil, carry out data verification and validation. The involvement of Disdukcapil is also to track beneficiaries who do not yet have an e-KTP or still hold an old KTP. In addition, we also invite channeling banks for verification," added Safii.

Reconciliation of data on jadup recipients in NTB was attended by Regional Secretaries and Heads of Social Services from the four earthquake-affected areas.

Based on data from the Ministry of Social Affairs, as many as 86,824 families or 297.88 earthquake victims in North Lombok Regency, East Lombok Regency and Sumbawa Regency will receive Phase II Jadup assistance. In accordance with the Minister of Social Affairs Regulation, jadup will be given at 10,000/person/day which is given for one month.

“From that data, who is entitled to receive it? Are they still domiciled or have they moved from NTB? Those who are entitled and have been verified will have a savings account created by BNI who are members of the State Bank Association (HIMBARA). If there are three people in a family, then all three of them get help,” explained Safii.

For the community, Safii advised them not to worry because the government has committed to helping disaster victims in stages. "This is a manifestation of the government's commitment to helping its citizens," he said.

Previously, the Ministry of Social Affairs had distributed the first phase of 2019 Jadup assistance as many as 5,118 families or 19,099 people in Central Lombok Regency, Mataram City, West Lombok Regency and West Sumbawa Regency worth IDR 11.45 billion.

"So, those who have already received their jadup in stage I will not get it again in stage II," said Safii.

In addition to providing jadup assistance, said Safii, the government has also provided compensation for the heirs of disaster victims who died as many as 567 people worth IDR 8,505,000,000. Then, there is also emergency handling from the Ministry of Social Affairs in the form of logistics distribution, government rice reserves, regular rice, basic necessities, family kitchen equipment, cleaning equipment and psychosocial support services, with a total assistance of IDR 21,607,710,904.

"So, social assistance for earthquake victims is worth a total of IDR 130,936,410,904, - (one hundred and thirty billion nine hundred thirty-six million four hundred ten thousand nine hundred and four rupiah)," he added.

The delivery of the second phase of Jadup assistance will be carried out directly by the Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara, at the end of this month.

"Later, the Minister of Social Affairs will symbolically hand over to the earthquake victims. Meanwhile, the others will automatically be credited to their respective accounts,” continued Safii.

Even though he has not fulfilled all the proposals from the local government, Safii advised the recipients of jadup assistance so that the aid can be used wisely.

With the provision of Phase II Jadup assistance, the government hopes that people who are victims of natural disasters can reorganize their normal lives as before. Although on the other hand, the government also admits that the journey to a normal life cannot be carried out quickly, given the impact of the disaster causing material losses (which are not small), losing their homes, even family members.

Meanwhile, the Head of the NTB Provincial Social Office, Ahsanul Khalik, promised to complete detailed data verification with the Head of the District Social Office quickly and accurately. "We have to minimize errors in the distribution of jadup. For this reason, data by name by address is our concern,” explained Aka, who is familiarly called by the Head of NTB Social Office.

I am grateful that the central government's commitment to disburse the second installment of the Jadup has been fulfilled. Therefore, he asked the commitment of the district government to prepare data that has been validated and verified accurately.

"If there is wrong data, don't blame the central government because their data comes from regional data. We are grateful for this disbursement. This (disbursement) is a form of the government's commitment to the people of NTB, although not all of them have been fulfilled. Rest assured, the government will help the people of NTB," said Aka.