PMI Sends Help And Personnel For Semeru Refugees

PMI General Chair Muhammad Jusuf Kalla (second left) inspects PMI's aid readiness for refugees from the Semeru eruption, Sunday (Source: PMI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) has sent basic needs assistance and mobilized volunteers to conduct a rapid assessment of the needs of communities affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru who are in refugee camps.

In a statement received in Jakarta on Sunday, December 5, PMI General Chair, Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, said the PMI logistics team had sent the aid on Saturday, December 4 evening and a coordination meeting had been held between PMI Central and PMI East Java today.

"We have prepared several steps in response to the Semeru eruption, the main thing is that we send basic needs first, according to the results of a quick assessment. Then evacuation, health services, and also assistance for refugees", said Jusuf Kalla.

In the initial assistance phase, PMI sent 200 hygiene packages, 50 sheets of tarpaulin, 200 blankets, 100 mattresses, 50,000 surgical masks, 20,000 cloth masks, 2,000 face shields, six tents, seven water tanker trucks, and 350 new clothes.

In addition, two Hagglund tactical vehicles will be sent and funds will be transferred as needed. On that occasion, Jusuf Kalla asked PMI East Java to provide fast food such as bread to meet the needs of the refugees.

In addition, PMI Lumajang staff assisted by Community-Based Disaster Preparedness (Sibat) volunteers from various villages have helped evacuate residents to the evacuation posts of the Penanggal Village Hall and Sumbermujur Village Hall.

PMI volunteers have also prepared a public kitchen service with a capacity of 2,000 packs per day in the Hamlet Field of Kamar Kajang, Sumberwuluh Village, Candipuro District.

PMI's Head of Disaster Management, Sumarsono, in the same statement explained that PMI volunteers from several areas have been mobilized to assist in the response to the Semeru eruption, including PMI volunteers from Malang Regency and City.

He said as many as 40 personnel from PMI Malang City were deployed to help with evacuation and rescue. In addition, PMI Malang City will also send a fleet including one heavy field operational car, two ambulances, and one trail bike.