Govt Prioritizes Evacuation of Banjarnegara Landslide Victims

Jakarta (Antara) - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has stated that the government prioritizes evacuation of landslide victims in Banjarnegara, Central Java. "The most important thing is evacuation. Later in the field, (I) will talk to the governor (about relief aid)," Jokowi said at Halim Perdanakusuma air force base, East Jakarta, before leaving for Banjarnegara by the Air Force's plane CN 295, Sunday. Personnel of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and the social affairs ministry are currently in Banjarnegara to evacuate the victims. "We are going to the field (to see) how bad is the condition and what kind of heavy equipment is needed," the president said. He said both evacuation and rehabilitation processes are equally important, but the priority now is evacuating the victims1. Chief of the National Police General Sutarman and Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto accompany Jokowi during the visit to Banjarnegara. (*)