TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Social Minister Idrus Marham instructed his staffers to immediately distribute aid and basic needs for victims of Lombok earthquake, West Nusa Tenggara.

“I heard a report on early Monday that people in North Lombok leave their houses and stay at an open field and rice field without bed and no roof. Thus, this morning I demand the teams in the field to list them and distribute aid and their basic needs,” said Idrus through a written statement in Jakarta, Monday, August 6.

The ministry's director general of social security and protection Harry Hikmat said the distribution of aid and basic needs for the evacuees has started, such as blankets, tents, instant foods, as well as the establishment of trauma healing programs.

“They are shocked and need assistance. We have ordered the disaster response agency (Tagana) team in NTB and Bali to provide psychosocial services and also Tagana team from East Java to be ready to go the disaster location. We will first monitor the data result to decide further actions,” he added.

The director general said the Disaster Response Village (KSB) in NTB and Bali were also deployed to help the victims. The members of KSB were trained people in disaster management hence their presence was helpful.

“KSB is community-based disaster management. The government is greatly helped by KSB members because they can conduct independent evacuation, build a public kitchen, list the victims, and distribute the needs. They are the vital role in the disaster management,” Harry said.

The Social Ministry also mobilized all personnel of disaster response agency (Tagana) and assistants of Program Keluarga Harapan (Family Hope Program) in NTB, Bali, and East Java in the wake of Lombok earthquake.

ANTARA