Ministers to mark 81st Independence Day with quake-affected residents in NTT
A number of ministers will commemorate the 81st anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia together with residents affected by the earthquake in various areas of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
“We will divide tasks in the field (disaster-affected locations) and tomorrow we will hold the ceremony not in Jakarta, but we will join the independence anniversary ceremony in various regions (affected by the earthquake),” said Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno after a coordination meeting in West Manggarai Regency, NTT, as quoted from an official statement on Sunday.
The decision is part of the central government’s rapid response to President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to ensure that the handling of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake’s impact proceeds directly and in a coordinated manner on the ground.
Pratikno added that besides himself, a number of central government officials will be spread across the affected areas to oversee the handling according to their respective duties and responsibilities.
They will even commemorate Independence Day together with communities in areas that are facing difficult times due to the disaster.
They are tasked with overseeing crucial issues while ensuring that disaster management needs in each region can be responded to promptly.
“We divide tasks to various regions to oversee according to our duties and functions, overseeing crucial issues in those areas. But we will continue to coordinate even though we are in different places,” he said.
The government is also strengthening coordination through an integrated command post network so that aid from various regions can move more quickly and be better targeted.
A national command post has been put on standby to consolidate the dispatch of logistics from Jakarta and several other regions through Halim Perdanakusuma Airport before being forwarded to the disaster locations.
He added that synchronisation is needed so that all government forces in dealing with the emergency situation can work in one direction, from rescuing residents to the recovery stage.
“This synchronisation is very important so that the government’s large resources for emergency response as well as for rehabilitation and reconstruction run synergistically, effectively, and on target,” said Pratikno.
During the emergency response period, the government is prioritising the safety of residents as well as meeting the basic needs of affected communities. At the same time, repairs to vital infrastructure are being accelerated so that community activities can resume.
“In this emergency response stage, the main priority is of course to save and meet the basic needs of affected residents, then restore damaged infrastructure so that it becomes functional again soon, including roads, bridges, hospitals, electricity, internet networks, and others,” concluded Pratikno.