President Prabowo's Quick Instructions, 4 Aircraft Including A400 Deployed To Bring Aid To 3 Provinces Affected By Floods

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto instructed the acceleration of disaster management in Sumatra by deploying four transport aircraft that departed with assistance on a large scale to the three affected provinces.

Cabinet Secretary (Seskab) Teddy Indra Wijaya said the deployment of the aircraft was carried out on the direct orders of President Prabowo which was delivered the night before.

"Three Hercules planes and one A400 aircraft that arrived earlier this month in the country were flown to three provinces affected by the disaster," Teddy said in Jakarta as quoted by Antara, Friday, November 27.

The planes brought aid to Padang (West Sumatra), Silangit Airport in North Sumatra to support the Tapanuli area, as well as Banda Aceh and Lhokseumawe (North Aceh) as the closest points to the affected location.

According to Teddy, this step is a follow-up to the government's quick response since the first day of the disaster occurred.

"Since the first day, on November 25, the President has immediately instructed the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture to coordinate disaster management," he said.

President Prabowo has also communicated with regional heads in West Sumatra, North Sumatra, and Aceh to ensure that needs in the field are met.

The assistance sent today includes about 150 evacuation tents, 64 rubber boats for evacuation, a generator for emergency electricity needs, around 100 communication tools for network recovery, ready-to-eat food, as well as TNI medical personnel and the Ministry of Health complete with medicines.

"The important thing is that all aid immediately flies to the location, to the deepest area," said Teddy.

On another occasion, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Pratikno said all elements of the government had moved quickly from the start under President Prabowo's direct direction.

"From the first day, the President ordered the PMK team to immediately move, assisted by the TNI, Polri, and local governments. Refugee tents, food, and daily necessities have been sent," said Pratikno.

Ia menambahkan, pemerintah juga melakukan operasi modifikasi cuaca untuk mencegah bencana susulan di wilayah Sumatera.

He added that the government also carried out weather modification operations to prevent further disasters in the Sumatra region.