Especially For Refugees From Lewotobi Eruption For Children, Kemkomdigi Provides Entertainment

A number of refugee children from the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Boy watched children's shows (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi) through the East Flores Communication and Information Service (Diskominfo) provides various entertainment that is educational for children at the Mount Lewotobi Laki evacuation post in East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Head of the Communication and Information Office (Kadiskominfo) of East Flores Regency, Heronimus Lamawuran (Herry) revealed that multimedia devices such as laptops, projectors, and audio sets at the evacuation post were assistance and grants from the Ministry of Communication and Trade to the Flotim Regency Government.

"On behalf of the Flotim Regency Government, we are very grateful to Mrs. Meutya Hafid and her staff, for this very valuable concern and assistance. It also proves that collaboration is the best way to overcome post-disaster problems," Herry said in a written statement received in Jakarta, Saturday.

Herry said that children are one of the groups most vulnerable to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi, both physically and psychologically.

Many of them are traumatized so they need support to recover from this condition.

One of the entertainments is the screening of educational films about disasters, including major events such as the eruption of Mount Tambora on Sumbawa Island in 1815 and the eruption of Mount Krakatau in 1883.

Such education is very important, considering that Indonesia is a country with a high potential for natural disasters, especially earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis.

Education about natural disasters for children is an initial introduction to disaster mitigation and actions that need to be taken when an evacuation occurs.

This activity is also expected to help children learn while playing.

Herry further said, according to the direction of the Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, the devices were not only used for educational film screenings, but also for various other activities in refugee camps, such as field schools, socialization, and entertainment for refugees.

In addition, the Ministry of Communication and Digi also built six Command Posts for Communication and Information Centers in six Field Posts equipped with complete multimedia devices.

At each post, there is free internet access (wifi) using the Satria 1 (VSAT) satellite provided by the Telecommunications and Information Accessibility Agency (Bakti) Komdigi, to restore the accessibility of post-disaster telecommunications networks.

Assistance from the Ministry of Communication and Industry also includes supplies of basic materials and other refugee needs to ease the burden on the victims of the eruption.

With this assistance, it is hoped that the children and the refugee family can feel calmer and more comfortable, and can recover faster from the trauma they experienced due to the disaster.

"Through this effort, the Ministry of Communication and Trade supports the social and psychological recovery of refugees, especially children while raising awareness about the importance of disaster mitigation for a safer future," he said.