Flood Victims In Sibolga Jarah Minimarket, Minister Of Home Affairs: Because There Are Indeed Many Areas Isolated

Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian responded to cases of looting in a number of minimarkets and Bulog Warehouses in Sibolga City, North Sumatra (North Sumatra), as a result of floods and landslides that caused most areas to be isolated, making it difficult to receive assistance.

The Minister of Home Affairs explained that the case had been handled by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Pratikno with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), as well as the TNI/Polri.

"Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno immediately flew to Sibolga with BNPB, immediately taking over together with the TNI and Polri, now dropping (the distribution of aid from the air) is enough. Now we are looking for which areas are still isolated and the community needs assistance," said Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian in Jakarta, Monday.

The Minister of Home Affairs emphasized that the distribution of aid will continue to be optimized through all channels so that people do not lack food stocks or daily needs.

"If possible (distribution) land, yes land, if you can't, sea. You can't, by air, many dropping also use air. Looting in several areas that occur, most of which are exposed in the Sibolga area because there are indeed many isolated areas, and it is not easy to immediately drop them. Their stock may be lacking, hungry, so then someone enters the shops," he explained.

It is known that a viral video on social media showing dozens of residents affected by floods and landslides reportedly entered Bulog Sarudik Warehouse in Sibolga City, North Sumatra, on Saturday 29 November afternoon.

In the video footage circulating, residents are seen crammed into the warehouse area and carrying out a number of sacks of rice and cooking oil. Several children were also seen carrying rice sacks from inside the warehouse.

A similar incident was also reported in Central Tapanuli Regency. A video circulating shows a group of residents taking goods from a number of minimarkets in the area after floods and landslides that hit since the beginning of the week made it difficult to access basic necessities.

Other footage shows residents entering minimarkets with partially open doors, then taking various daily necessities, such as instant food, drinking water, and basic equipment before leaving the location.