Women and Children a Special Focus, Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Sends 46.6 Tonnes of Aid to Flores
Women and children are a special focus in the emergency response following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that shook several areas of Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (Kemen PPPA), together with a number of development partners and businesses, has sent 46.6 tonnes of aid specifically for women and children affected by the earthquake. The aid was received by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) on Sunday (23/8) at the National Logistics Support Post at Halim Perdanakusuma, Jakarta. The handover was carried out symbolically by Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifatul Choiri Fauzi to BNPB Deputy for Systems and Strategy Dr. Raditya Jati, accompanied by Expert Staff to the Head of BNPB Retired Major General Sun Suripto.
Minister Arifatul Choiri Fauzi said that the needs of women and children in disaster conditions cannot be equated with the needs of victims in general. Therefore, the government is ensuring that the aid sent matches the needs of these vulnerable groups. “The needs of women and children in disaster situations have specificities that must be met immediately. Therefore, we carried out direct needs mapping so that the aid provided truly answers their needs at the affected locations,” said Arifatul.
According to Arifatul, the President has also urged all ministries and agencies, including Kemen PPPA, to ensure that all disaster victims receive treatment as quickly as possible. Kemen PPPA will continue to strengthen collaboration with various parties to help women and children during the emergency response period through to recovery. “The President’s directive is very clear: all victims must be handled immediately. We at Kemen PPPA will ensure that women and children are not overlooked in disaster response, including needs for protection, health, sanitation and psychosocial support,” she said.
The aid sent includes food and nutrition needs, including nutrition for toddlers and children, bottled drinking water, processed food and various ready-to-eat logistics. For sanitation, hygiene and health needs, the aid also contains baby nappies, sanitary pads, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, as well as mosquito repellent lotion. In addition, non-food items were also sent, including children’s and adult clothing, prayer garments, abayas, towels, blankets and sarongs. Children’s psychological recovery needs were also a focus, with the inclusion of psychosocial education books, storybooks and colouring books.
A number of development partners and businesses contributed to the aid, including APSAI, APNIA, Danone, APJI, Muslimat NU, PWKI, IWAPI, Unilever, PERKIN and Nestlé. Arifatul stressed that the handling of women and children affected by disasters does not stop at the provision of logistical aid. Protection from violence, fulfilment of basic needs and psychosocial support must also be part of the response on the ground. “We want to ensure that even in emergency situations, the rights of women and children remain protected. Aid is not only about food, but also about safety, health, hygiene and psychological recovery,” said Arifatul.
The aid dispatch was carried out after Kemen PPPA coordinated with the Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Agency of East Nusa Tenggara Province and seven regencies affected by the earthquake. The coordination was carried out to map the most urgent needs of women and children on the ground. The mapping results were then discussed with development partners through an online meeting. The partners responded to these needs with commitment and solidarity to support the handling of the Flores earthquake victims.
Kemen PPPA is also opening space for collaboration with various stakeholders, including community organisations, women’s communities and businesses, so that support for victims can continue to be strengthened during the recovery period. Meanwhile, BNPB continues to coordinate with the Logistics Support Posts in Labuan Bajo and Maumere, Kemen PPPA and other related parties. The coordination is carried out to ensure that the aid received is managed and distributed safely, smoothly and on target to women and children affected by the earthquake in the Flores region, East Nusa Tenggara.