BNPB sends financial, logistical aid to earthquake victims in W Java

Photo archive - Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) visited the evacuation post for victims of the Mount Ibu eruption disaster in West Halmahera District, North Maluku, on Monday (May 27, 2024). ANTARA/HO-BNPB/rst.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) distributed financial and logistical assistance for earthquake victims in West Java.

"The head of BNPB, Suharyanto, directly led the assistance handover today," Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center Abdul Muhari stated on Thursday.

According to Muhari, the central government's assistance funds channeled through BNPB totaled Rp550 million (USD35 thousand).

Of the total Ready-to-Use Fund (DSP) assistance, Rp300 million (USD19 thousand) was given to the Bandung district government for earthquake mitigation and Rp250 million (USD16 thousand) to the Garut district government.

Moreover, the BNPB will distribute logistical assistance to help in meeting the refugee needs, he added.

The logistical assistance in question comprises several refugee tents, family tents, basic food packages, personal hygiene supplies, mattresses, blankets, tarpaulins, velbeds, lighting, ready-to-eat food, adult and children's clothing, generators, cleaning tools, mineral water, baby and toddler biscuits, baby diapers, and feminine hygiene products.

Muhari remarked that Suharyanto would also lead a coordination meeting with the local government for emergency disaster mitigation to discuss the rehabilitation and reconstruction plan for handling the impact of damage to houses and infrastructure.

Data from Thursday until 6 a.m. local time showed 30 villages from eight sub-districts in Bandung District affected by the earthquake, with the number of victims reaching 21,696 from 5,409 families.

In Garut District, 209 people were affected in 11 villages in three sub-districts and at least 204 houses were affected, including five houses of worship.

The 5.0M earthquake shook the Bandung district area and its surroundings on Wednesday (September 18) at 9:41 local time. The epicenter of the earthquake was on land at a distance of 25 kilometers southeast of Bandung District, at a depth of 10 kilometers.