Visiting Lumajang, Coordinating Ministry For Human Development And Culture Holds Coordination Meeting With BNPB, Ministries And Ormas To Handle Victims Of The Semeru Eruption

Coordinating Minister for PMK Muhadjri Effendy/DOK VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendi is scheduled to directly visit the location of the Mount Semeru eruption disaster in Lumajang, East Java. In order to synchronize the roles and functions of each ministry, institution and community organization to carry out control. "Therefore, when the time comes, I will coordinate with the head of BNPB who is now there and the relevant ministries," Muhadjir told reporters on Sunday, December 5th. Muhadjir said that all areas affected by the eruption were in Lumajang Regency. "So the incident yesterday was at 14.47 WIB with the affected areas in the Candipuro, Pronojiwo and Pasirian areas. All of them are in the Lumajang district," he continued. Muhadjir explained that up to now, there have been two recorded deaths that have been identified, 10 people have not been evacuated, 96 were injured, and 41 of them suffered burns. All of them, he said, had been evacuated and treated at the Haryoto Hospital and Bhayangkara Hospital.

"So far, there are 17 refugee points with a total of 902 refugees. Damage to settlements and infrastructure is still being collected by the joint team," he explained. Muhadjir said the government had made efforts to handle it together with volunteers and community institutions. Among them are BNPB, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Affairs, Health Crisis Center of East Java Provincial Health Office, East Java BPBD, PMI, TNI, and community organizations including volunteers from Nahdlatul Ulama and volunteers from Muhammadiyah. "Then the team of philanthropic solidarity from the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture has now also moved to take part in handling this disaster. There are 22 institutions that will be involved in handling the Semeru emergency," explained Muhadjir. 5 kilometers from the direction of the crater opening to watch out for hot clouds and lava.

The Malang Regency Government is also advised to assist in emergency handling of the volcanic eruption. "It is also hoped that BNPB can provide helicopter support to carry out aerial monitoring," he urged. The list of logistics that have been sent, said Muhadjir, includes food, medicine, tarpaulins, blankets, mattresses, masks, surgical masks, face shields, platoon tents, water tanks, soup kitchen refugee tents. Volunteers were also deployed to the Affected locations. "For the search for rescue and evacuation, everything has been prepared. Now the Minister of Social Affairs is in the field, later the head of BNPB will also be on the ground and I will fly directly from Mataram to Surabaya and continue to Lumajang," he said.

Muhadjir said all those involved would hold a coordination meeting to finalize and evaluate what had been done and make further plans.

"For the current emergency response period, BNPB is the coordinator," he said.