President Holds Ratas Bahas Relocation Of Victims Of Mount Space Eruption In North Sulawesi

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) chaired a limited meeting to discuss the relocation of settlements for victims affected by the eruption of Mount Ruang, Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi (Sulut)

The meeting, which was attended by a number of ministers of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet, took place at the Merdeka Palace, Friday, May 3.

"From April 16 to April 30, there has been an eruption of Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi which has an impact on approximately 9 thousand refugees and approximately 12 thousand residents whom we need to evacuate as well as airport closures," said President Jokowi.

President Jokowi explained that the relocation of local residents and the condition of the refugees is something that must be resolved immediately.

The President questioned spatial planning and land for the construction of residential areas that must be accelerated.

"Is it permissible for us to return to our place of origin so that relocation is needed for settlements that must be accelerated as well as land matters, including home affairs and those related to work," said the President.

President Jokowi also emphasized the importance of identifying several damaged buildings and infrastructure affected by the eruption, both schools, hospitals and bridges.

A number of ministers and heads of institutions were also present at the meeting, including Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) Pratikno, Cabinet Secretariat (Sekab) Pramono Anung, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy, Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN), Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, Deputy Minister of Finance (Wamenkeu) Suahasil Nazara, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and Air Lifting Staff Chief (KSAU) Marshal Tonny Harjono.

Previously, based on data from the BNPB Pusdalops, it was known that there were as many as 12 thousand residents of Tagulandang and 600-700 residents of Ruang Island, Sitaro Islands who had to be evacuated to refugee camps and needed sufficient food supplies.

Of the total number as of Wednesday (1/5) evening, 3,364 Tamulandang residents had been successfully evacuated. Each of them was transported by ship to evacuate to Manado, Bitung, Siau and Munte.

Meanwhile, all residents of Ruang Island have been evacuated since the eruption of the first phase of Mount Ruang.

The evacuation was carried out so that residents were protected from the impact of eruption material in the form of incandescent rocks, hot clouds, or other Mount Ruang volcanic activity which erupted several times on April 17 and April 30, 2024.