Home Affairs Minister inspects post-earthquake handling and recovery in Ende

Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian conducted an inspection while evaluating the handling and recovery needs following the earthquake in Ende Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. The minister said he would check a number of affected locations, including the condition of infrastructure and basic public services. He will also coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to ensure that handling on the ground proceeds according to need.

“As material for our evaluation with all teams, with the ministries, the Head of BNPB, so we know which points need what, which roads are damaged, automatically the Public Works Minister will repair them immediately,” Tito said in his statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.

“I directly telephoned the President Director of PLN, and his team went down immediately,” he said.

Besides ensuring that infrastructure and basic services are functioning again, the Home Affairs Minister stressed that the safety of victims is the priority in the early stage of disaster handling. Sick residents must receive medical treatment immediately, while the basic needs of affected families must also be met.

“The main priorities are evacuation and helping victims, and restoring basic infrastructure — electricity, internet, communications, then roads and access must be opened,” the minister said firmly.

The Home Affairs Minister explained that disaster handling will proceed in stages. After urgent needs and basic public services are addressed, the government will enter a transition period before moving on to the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase.

In the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase, the government will determine permanent handling measures based on the level of damage to each piece of infrastructure. This is important so that handling can be carried out precisely and according to need.

“So, the public must be patient, it takes time. The important thing is that we all come down and work together — central government, regions and the community,” he said.