BP Taskin: NTT earthquake response carried out swiftly and in coordination

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the Poverty Alleviation Acceleration Agency (BP Taskin) Budiman Sudjatmiko stated that the government is moving quickly to handle the impact of the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Saturday. In a statement in Jakarta on Saturday, he said President Prabowo Subianto has instructed all ministries, agencies, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to move swiftly and simultaneously in handling the disaster. “The government is not standing idle. President Prabowo Subianto has instructed all ranks of ministries, agencies, the TNI, and Polri to move swiftly and simultaneously,” he said. He said the current on-the-ground response involves a joint SAR team consisting of 281 personnel from the TNI, Polri, Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), and other SAR resources. The team has evacuated 79 affected people and is still searching for one person reported to be buried. The Ministry of Social Affairs has also mobilised logistical assistance worth approximately Rp4.5 billion, including ready-to-eat food, tents, blankets, mattresses, family kits, and public kitchen equipment. He said the government’s handling does not stop at the emergency response phase. “Grief and the presence of the state are one thing. But our task is to ensure that our brothers and sisters in NTT do not suffer prolonged hardship,” he said. He confirmed that BP Taskin, together with the Ministry of Social Affairs, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), and local governments, is also conducting rapid assessments to identify the most urgent needs of affected communities, including food, clean water, tents, health services, and safe places for displaced people. “Data collection on damage and residents’ needs is still ongoing in all affected areas, and we will adjust assistance according to developments on the ground,” he said. He urged the people of NTT to remain alert to the possibility of aftershocks. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned that aftershock activity may continue over the coming weeks. He assured that the government will continue to oversee the disaster response process until the needs of affected communities are met. “We will not leave our brothers and sisters in NTT alone. We will ensure that emergency handling, evacuation, data collection, and aid distribution are carried out swiftly and in a coordinated manner,” said Budiman Sudjatmiko.