Jakarta (ANTARA) – Transmigration Minister Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara said the government is preparing several programs to support communities affected by the magnitude-7.7 earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
Suryanagara said the ministry had also collected around Rp100 million in donations as an initial contribution to help communities affected by the disaster.
“Employees contributed around Rp100 million as an initial initiative. After that, we are also designing programs that can be redirected. We will give priority to several matters to help our brothers and sisters in NTT,” he said in an official statement received on Thursday.
According to Suryanagara, the concern for communities affected by the earthquake reflects collaboration between the Ministry of Transmigration and the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions.
Beyond disaster response, he said stronger coordination between the two ministries was needed to ensure the sustainability of development in villages and transmigration areas.
The transmigration program has established 1,567 new villages through the development of transmigration areas, he said.
Once established, these villages require continued support from local governments and the ministry responsible for village development.
Suryanagara explained that cross-ministerial collaboration is necessary to ensure that development is not disrupted by administrative boundaries once a program or area has grown.
Programs that have already been established, he added, must continue to deliver benefits and develop into sources of economic and social strength for local communities.
Furthermore, he said the momentum of Independence Day commemorations should be filled with concrete action rather than ceremonies alone, including efforts to strengthen public services.
“The most important thing in the end is the benefit for the community,” the minister said.
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Translator: Aria, Kenzu
Editor: Primayanti
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