Makassar, S Sulawesi (ANTARA) – South Sulawesi Governor Andi Sudirman Sulaiman has provided financial and educational assistance to the children of a 45-year-old firefighter who died while battling forest and land fires in North Toraja.
Andi delivered the assistance during a visit to the late Padayya Mangampang’s family home in North Toraja, according to a statement issued in Makassar on Friday.
“On behalf of the South Sulawesi provincial government, we extend our deepest condolences. He dedicated himself to protecting forests and the environment. His death is a loss for us all,” Andi said.
Padayya died after being struck by a falling tree while trying to extinguish forest and land fires in Lembang Nanna’, Nanggala Subdistrict, North Toraja District.
Padayya was a government employee under a work agreement (PPPK) serving with the Manggala Agni forest-firefighting team at the Saddang II Forest Management Unit, part of the provincial Environment and Forestry Agency.
Alongside financial assistance for the family, Andi also offered support for the continued education of Padayya’s children, including help with their school expenses.
He said the government had discussed educational assistance with the family, including the possibility of providing scholarships through education savings accounts.
“We have discussed their school needs with the family and ways to provide scholarships through education savings accounts for the children,” he said.
He said supporting bereaved families was part of the government’s responsibility, particularly toward personnel who had dedicated themselves to public service and environmental protection.
The assistance is expected to help the family meet the children’s educational needs following the loss of their main breadwinner.
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Translator: Nur SW, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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