Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini handed over Rp15 million in compensation to the families of each of the four deceased victims of the 5.4-magnitude earthquake that rattled Jayapura city, Papua province, on February 9, 2023.

She distributed the compensation at the Jayapura City Regional VI Social Welfare Training and Education Center (BBPPKS) on Tuesday.

The minister said that the logistical assistance warehouse of the BBPPKS had disbursed a number of aids in stages.

In the first stage, the warehouse distributed 7 multi-purpose tents, 5 family tents, 60 roll-up tents, 200 blankets, 150 mattresses, 60 family kits, 60 sets of children’s clothes, and 400 child food packages, she noted.

Meanwhile, in the second stage, the assistance distributed from the BBPPKS included 10 multi-purpose tents, 30 family kits, 120 blankets, 30 mattresses, 100 ready-to-eat meals, as well as 80 child food packages.

Still, to expedite the handling of the Jayapura quake victims, the Social Affairs Ministry is coordinating with the government of Mimika district, Central Papua province, to establish a warehouse for buffer stocks of disaster logistical assistance.

“Because the buffer stocks (of logistical assistance) at Jayapura City Regional VI BBPKS have been used to serve (aid to the people in) the districts of Nabire (Central Papua province), Supiori (Papua province), and Merauke (South Papua province),” Rismaharini noted.

She said that the new buffer stock warehouse will be built in Mimika district because it is closer to Papua province, thus it will allow for quicker disaster handling in Papua province.

The Social Affairs Ministry also sent emergency logistical assistance comprising 1,000 child food packages, 100 mattresses, 500 mats, 1,000 packages of adult clothing, 500 packages of children’s clothing, 500 roll-up tents, 50 multi-purpose tents, 150 portable family tents, and 5 portable toilets for the quake victims.

The aid was sent from the ministry’s Bekasi Main Logistical Warehouse to the Jayapura City Regional VI BBPPKS Warehouse on February 11.

Earlier, acting regional secretary of Jayapura city, Robby Awi, announced a 21-day disaster emergency response period from February 9 to March 1 following the earthquake.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that 15 houses were heavily damaged, 1 was moderately damaged, while 28 houses were slightly damaged in the quake.

Source: Antara News