Flood And Landslide Victims In South Sulawesi Receive 40 Tons Of Rice Aid

A volunteer is busy arranging rice assistance at the Emergency Response Main Command Post at Andi Djemma Field, Luwu, South Sulawesi. (ANTARA/HO-Humas South Sulawesi Provincial Government)

MAKASSAR - Victims affected by floods and landslides that occurred in six districts in South Sulawesi (Sulsel) have now received assistance from the Central Government in the form of sending 40 tons of rice.

Head of the South Sulawesi Social Service Abdul Malik Faisal, in his statement in Makassar, Thursday, said the assistance came from the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Indonesian State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Group such as BNI and Pupuk Indonesia.

"Alhamdulillah, early Thursday morning we received 40 tons of rice from the central government, which came from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Indonesian SOEs," said Malik Faisal as the Assistance Distribution Task Force, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, May 9.

He explained that the activity was seen at the Flood Emergency Response Main Post - South Sulawesi Landslide at Andi Djemma Field, Belopa, Luwu Regency. The truck line filled Andi Djemma Field.

There was also a pickup truck lined up neatly on the front yard of Andi Djemma's main stage, a place to store aid that would be distributed to victims affected by the disaster in Luwu and Wajo Regencies.

"A total of 30 tons was dropped at the main post, while 10 tons were placed at Bua Airport, because it will be transported by helicopter belonging to the Army to Latimojong District, because it cannot be accessed by land route," Malik explained.

In addition to assistance from the central government, Malik continued, assistance has also been received from the private sector, such as PT Menara Sakti Makassar which directly delivered 200 boxes of instant noodles, 1 ton of rice, and 200 boxes of mineral water.

Until now, there are still 16 villages in Latimojong District, Luwu, which cannot be accessed by land due to the interruption of three bridges leading to the area at the foot of the mountain.

Logistics assistance to meet the needs of thousands of residents in the 16 villages was transported by helicopter from the TNI and Polri, as well as BNPB.

Malik Faisal revealed that until the fifth day after the disaster that hit six areas in South Sulawesi, his party had distributed 23 tons of aid to affected residents, especially in Luwu Regency.

With the presence of assistance from the central government, the assistance will soon be distributed, especially in Latimojong District.

"God willing, this assistance will be immediately distributed and we have coordinated to immediately distribute the aid to other affected areas, including those from other donors," said Malik.

Previously, during a press conference, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, Malik Faisal said that during the emergency response process, 70 agencies had been recorded to make donations through the main post in Belopa. These agencies are both state agencies, private and individual.