Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) sent 33,947 relief items to residents affected by last Saturday’s magnitude 7.7 earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, with supplies shipped from Jakarta to Labuan Bajo.
“We hope this aid will soon arrive in Labuan Bajo for distribution. Speed and accuracy are essential in disaster relief,” PMI Chairman Jusuf Kalla said at Tanjung Priok Port on Saturday.
Kalla inspected the loading of supplies intended to meet basic needs during the emergency, particularly for displaced residents sheltering in evacuation centers.
The shipment includes 10,000 sarongs, 1,000 blankets, 10,000 clothing items, 1,000 hygiene kits, 1,000 dignity kits and 500 baby kits. PMI also sent 2,000 Qur’ans and 2,000 copies of Juz ‘Amma.
Other supplies include 500 wheelbarrows, 500 shovels, 25 tents measuring 6 by 12 meters, 20 portable toilets, two 1,000-liter water tanks, 1,000 mattresses, 2,000 tarpaulins, 500 radios, 500 flashlights, 1,000 mosquito nets and 400 kitchen kits.
Kalla, a former Indonesian vice president, said PMI chose sea transport because of the large volume of supplies being shipped.
He said the relief would be quickly mobilized to communities in seven districts across Flores Island: West Manggarai, East Manggarai, Manggarai, Nagekeo, Ende, Sikka and Ngada.
Distribution will take place in stages and be tailored to the needs of survivors in each area, he said.
PMI’s supplies are being shipped alongside relief items provided by other institutions, he added.
Indonesia was hit by a magnitude 7.7 tectonic earthquake in the Flores Sea, with the epicenter northeast of Nagekeo. Government agencies, including BNPB, quickly launched emergency response and relief operations.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said more than 777 metric tons of relief supplies had been airlifted to NTT as of August 21 following the disaster, which killed 83 people.
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Translator: Tri Meilani, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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