Prabowo ensures that the budget for handling the Sumatra disaster is sufficient: Aid can enter as long as the procedures are clear
JAKARTA - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has ensured that the government has prepared a large budget for handling and recovering disaster-affected areas in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. He also invited parties who want to provide assistance to disaster-affected communities, provided that they go through clear procedures.
This was conveyed by Prabowo when reviewing the construction of temporary housing (huntara) at the Bukit Rata Football Field, Aceh Tamiang Regency, Thursday, January 1.
President Prabowo emphasized that the government would not reject any assistance, as long as it was channeled according to the applicable mechanism.
"I have been reported by the Governor and later I will talk to several other officials about the mechanism. If there is a party who is sincere and willing to help, we are clear as humans to reject help. As long as the help is clear, yes," said Prabowo in his statement, Thursday, January 1.
Prabowo said the government invited the Acehnese, Minang, and Batak diaspora who wanted to help the people in their home areas. However, he asked that the assistance be delivered officially so that it could be coordinated by the central government and local governments.
"For example, there are Aceh diaspora who feel called to help in Aceh, yes, please. Later we will channel it. There are Minang diaspora who help what it is, please," he said.
In addition, the President also invited relevant parties to coordinate with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), if there are Batak communities in Jakarta, other cities, or even abroad who want to provide assistance.
Even so, he emphasized, the distribution mechanism will later be regulated by the local government.
"If the assistance is sincere and sincere, we will hand it over. Our mechanism will hand over, maybe the Governor of Aceh Province, West Sumatra, North Sumatra, may open an account like what," he explained.
The President also emphasized that assistance could be channeled directly to the affected community, as long as it was coordinated with the government.
"Maybe the post-disaster assistance funds want to send it directly, please, from within the country to donate please. We do not reject assistance, only the mechanism and procedure must be clear," said Prabowo.
Most importantly, continued the President, the assistance must be given with sincere intentions without any interests.
"Because we have experienced, we have been helped, in the end there are also those who charge. But we have to think positively that the important thing is that we work as quickly as possible to alleviate the suffering of our people, wherever our goal is," he concluded.