Government Of The Republic Of Indonesia Sends Humanitarian Aid For Earthquake Victims In Vanuatu

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government plans to send humanitarian aid to Vanuatu to help earthquake victims that occurred in the country on December 17.

This was conveyed by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Pratikno after chairing a ministerial meeting to discuss the plan to send the aid on Monday, December 24.

"The president ordered us to immediately prepare for assistance because Vanuatu is a very important partner of Indonesia, and this is a humanitarian issue that must be our concern," said Pratikno as quoted by ANTARA.

He stated that the advance team from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) would first depart for Vanuatu on Tuesday (24/12) to prepare logistics and administration before the delivery of the first phase of aid scheduled for Friday (27/12).

"Later on Friday, we agreed to send aid to Vanuatu, including the SAR team, clean water supply, health services, and basic infrastructure reconstruction, especially health facilities," he said.

Pratikno emphasized that the delivery of the humanitarian aid would not interfere with the handling of disasters in the country. The government has also held coordination meetings with regents and mayors to anticipate hydrometeorological disasters during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

"What we send to Vanuatu is a separate team and does not interfere with what we have to deal with for disaster management in the country," he said.

Initial assistance includes sending an Emergency Medical Team (EMT) team to provide emergency medical care, supply of medicines, and logistics for basic necessities such as food, clean water, and other equipment.

The earthquake in Vanuatu on Tuesday (17/12) was known to have affected 80,000 people, including 14,104 children and 769 people with disabilities. A total of 18 people died, 200 were injured, and 947 people fled to churches and houses in Manples, Britano, Kaweriki, and Kona. The country's emergency status is in effect from 17 to 24 December 2024.

Through this assistance, the Indonesian government hopes to ease the burden on the people of Vanuatu as well as strengthen bilateral relations in the Pacific region.

The ministerial meeting was also attended by Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Head of BNPB Suharyanto, Head of Basarnas Kusworo, Head of BAIS TNI Yudi Abrimantyo, and representatives of other relevant ministries/agencies.