Vice President Gibran to visit victims of Mt Lewotobi eruptions

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka will soon head to East Flores District, East Nusa Tenggara Province, to directly oversee the handling of residents affected by the eruptions of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki.

According to Minister of Housing and Settlement Maruarar Sirait, VP Gibran will also make the most of his visit to participate in the distribution of assistance to victims of the volcanic disasters.

"Mr. Vice President is willing to go down to the field. In two or three days, he will be at the location (of the eruption victims) after visiting Makassar and Tana Toraja (in South Sulawesi Province) first," the minister remarked in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media after participating in a meeting on handling the eruptions, Sirait noted that the government would continue to deliver aid to meet the needs of the disaster-hit residents.

"We need to coordinate to identify what is genuinely needed by the people. It is also necessary for us to inspect the condition on the field to determine the viable routes to ensure smooth delivery of assistance," he remarked.

Earlier, VP Gibran chaired the Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki eruption mitigation meeting at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) office. The meeting lasted for an hour and a half.

In addition to Gibran and Sirait, the meeting drew participation from BNPB Head Suharyanto, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, Health Minister Budi Sadikin, and Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Minister Nusron Wahid.

Furthermore, Deputy Minister of Public Works Diana Kusumastuti and Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo Priyono attended the meeting.