Indonesian National Police provide 300 meals per day to support journalist SAR operation
The Indonesian National Police (Polri) have mobilised a mobile field kitchen unit providing 300 ready-to-eat meals per day for joint SAR team personnel, the public, and victims’ families at the Carita Beach Main SAR Post, Pandeglang, Banten.
The joint SAR post is currently engaged in a mission to locate a group of journalists and the crew of the fast boat Arupadatu I, who went missing in the Sunda Strait, Pandeglant, Banten, while reporting on the volcanic activity of Mount Anak Krakatau on Monday (7/9).
Speaking at the Carita Main SAR Post in Pandeglang on Wednesday, the Head of the Polri Field Kitchen Team, Sadiel Marbun, stated that the mobile kitchen, operated by the Banten Regional Police Brimob Unit, was established as a humanitarian gesture.
“This humanitarian action, this field kitchen, was established under the orders of the Banten Regional Police Chief to facilitate the logistical needs of all joint SAR personnel, the community, and families present at the post,” he said.
Marbun explained that the mobile kitchen service has been operational since the second day of the search for the KM Arupadatu I fast boat, specifically on Tuesday (8/9), serving three meals a day with 100 portions each for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The cooking process begins at 05:00 WIB for breakfast, continues at 11:30 WIB for lunch, and resumes at 19:30 WIB for dinner preparations.
“For those 300 portions, we cook for about 1 to 1.5 hours, so we can ensure they are on time and that volunteers, officers, and everyone here does not go hungry,” said Marbun.
The operation of the field kitchen mobile unit is managed by seven personnel from the Banten Regional Police Brimob Unit, specifically from the logistics and tactical operations divisions. However, this background does not limit their ability to serve food in the field kitchen. Marbun noted that his team works efficiently and solidly to ensure the food has a distinct flavour, comparable to star-rated restaurants.
Tasks are divided among the team, including chefs, raw material processing such as cutting and washing, and daily logistics shopping at local markets. “For example, this afternoon, on the ninth day of the operation, we prepared Manado-style Ayam Rica-rica, and tonight will be different, and tomorrow will be different again,” Marbu said.
He ensured that everyone involved in the Carita Main SAR Post environment can utilise the kitchen service, which provides various heavy meals along with light refreshments such as jelly and warm beverages.
“We have calculated that we provide 300 portions of food. They usually run out, but volunteers can come here at any time to make their own coffee and tea, which are provided. We hope our service can be of help,” he concluded.