Puan Asks To Forget Administrative Affairs, Most Important Children Affected By The Eruption Of Mount Lewotobi Must Go To School

A number of refugees witnessed incandescent lava and a column of smoke coming out of the crater of Mount Lewotobi Laki at the self-help evacuation site in the hills of Pullula Village/DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - In addition to ensuring the safety of the community due to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki in East Flores, DPR Speaker Puan Maharani asked the Government to pay attention to the education aspects of refugee children. Puan also highlighted the tourism sector considering the location of the mountain is near tourism areas such as Labuan Bajo, which is located in West Manggarai, NTT.

"In disaster conditions, children and women belong to vulnerable groups that must be considered. So it is very important that the Government pays more attention, especially so that children affected by the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Men can still learn," said Puan, Thursday, November 14.

There are 42 schools and around 4,600 students affected by the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki. To help residents, as many as 11 educational units were used as refugee camps, precisely in the TiteTENa District area.

This resulted in 1,189 students and 108 teachers at the school being disrupted by their education services. For this reason, Puan encourages the Government to create alternative student learning places whose schools are used as refugee camps.

The East Flores government itself has stated that all schools in its area must accept students of the Mount Lewotobi Male eruption refugees. Especially for schools that are not too affected by the eruption.

"Maximize also by preparing emergency classes or schools in the evacuation, including the availability of educators to help children there can still go to school so they don't miss lessons," said Puan.

Even so, the first woman to serve as Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives reminded that children affected by the eruption disaster should not be charged with administrative matters such as school uniforms. According to Puan, the most important thing is that children can still learn.

"In a situation like this, emergency schools are needed, but I ask to put aside first regarding administrative matters that make it difficult," said the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.

To support the learning of children who are victims of the eruption, Puan asked the Government to complete assistance facilities by providing basic learning tools such as books, pencils, drawing books, coloring tools and support needs for learning activities. He also assessed that learning can be collaborated with trauma healing steps for children who are victims of disasters.

"Aid in the form of stationery and other learning equipment is needed so that children can still get the right to study even though they are in refugee camps," said Puan.

"Pembelajan can also be done at the same time as trauma healing activities for children, for example through educational entertainment that makes children enthusiastic even in difficult conditions," he continued.

On the other hand, Puan emphasized the importance of the Government providing evacuation assistance for tourists trapped in affected areas. It is known, there are quite a lot of tourists who complain about the difficulty of accessing out of affected areas, such as Labuan Bajo, because flights have been canceled.

"The government needs to cooperate with related parties to help tourists who want to leave the affected area. Prepare ships to transport tourists because currently the sea lane is still possible," said Puan.

Labuan Bajo itself as the leading tourist destination in NTT was also affected by the spread of volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki to the area. A total of 3,292 tourists dominated were evacuated from Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, using sea transportation.

These tourists were previously 'trapped' there because of the closure of Komodo Airport which was affected by the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki in East Flores, NTT. Puan asked the Government to continue combing areas that are tourist destinations to ensure the safety of tourists and evacuate immediately if they are still trapped.

"The government must ensure that foreign and local tourists can be evacuated as quickly as possible from tourist sites, especially from Labuan Bajo. Make sure they can return to their place of origin in a safe condition," Bung Karno's grandson ordered.

According to Puan, attention to the tourism sector is needed because the NTT region and its surroundings have many tourist destinations.

"Many people there depend on the fate of the tourism sector, so it is important to make improvement efforts as quickly as possible so that the economic losses of the community do not get bigger," he said.

"The security of citizens must be a priority, but the improvement of the community's economic infrastructure is no less important because it involves the wheels of the people's economy," concluded Puan.