TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Jusuf Kalla was appointed by President Joko `Jokowi` Widodo as the commander of the Central Sulawesi natural disaster mitigation following the tsunami and earthquake that struck Donggala and Palu.

Prior to his appointment, as Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross Society Jusuf Kalla had already prepared a number of mitigation programs as follows:

1. Dispatched air assistance for remote areas

On Sunday, September 30, Jusuf Kalla commissioned two Blocow BO-105 helicopters from Makassar’s Bukit Baruga hangar to send humanitarian aid such as food, medical supplies, and a field medical team to reach survivors in remote areas inaccessible by ground transportation.

2. Clean water supply

Jusuf Kalla ordered 15 tanker trucks carrying clean water to areas in Palu after the area lacked clean water sources following the devastating earthquake.

Read also: Kalla: Indonesia Rejects US Hospital Ship Aid for Quake Victims

3. Heavy machinery

The vice president also dispatched a number of heavy machinery from Poso to assist the emergency response process at Donggala and Palu. The heavy-duty equipment is tasked to evacuate survivors that are suspected to still be under the rubbles of numerous damaged building structures.

4. Kalla Group

Jusuf Kalla ordered Kalla group to prepare sea transports that serve Jakarta – Makassar route that departs every three days for donor groups or individuals sending humanitarian aid for the victims of the Donggala quake and Palu tsunami.

FRISKI RIANA