Mt Lewotobi: VP Gibran orders customized shelters for eruption victims

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has pushed ministries and agencies to set up different general and special refugee sites for victims of the eruptions of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara.

This information was conveyed by Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Suharyanto, following a coordination meeting on the volcanic disasters chaired by the vice president in Jakarta on Tuesday.

"When chairing the meeting, the VP outlined directives, including an order to differentiate between general refugee sites and those specified for the elderly, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children," Suharyanto remarked.

He explained that the classification of refugee spots is necessary to ensure the on-point provision of health services and fulfillment of the basic needs of the eruption-affected residents.

The official highlighted that the government had yet to receive complaints from the people regarding basic services provided eight days into the 58-day emergency status, which the East Flores district government declared following a major eruption on November 3 evening.

Furthermore, Suharyanto emphasized that the central government would not wait for the end of the emergency status to begin rehabilitation and reconstruction measures to ensure the immediate fulfillment of local residents' needs.

The coordination meeting, which took place at the BNPB office and lasted for an hour and a half, brought together Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno, Housing and Settlement Minister Maruarar Sirait, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, and Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin.

Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Minister Nusron Wahid, Deputy Minister of Public Works Diana Kusumastuti, and Social Affairs Deputy Minister Agus Jabo Priyono were also present at the meeting.