Social Minister Risma Returns Compensation To 24 Heirs Of Victims Of The Lumajang Mount Semeru Eruption

Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini provides compensation to the heirs of 24 victims of the Mount Semeru APG disaster (Photo Via Antara)

LUMAJANG - The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) again provided compensation to the heirs of 24 victims of the eruption of Mount Semeru in Lumajang Regency, East Java, Monday, February 21.

Social Minister Tri Rismaharini or Risma said that the process of providing compensation was not easy, because there were several heirs who could not be found in centralized evacuation centers. Some of these heirs have taken refuge in their relatives' homes, or have moved out of town.

"That's the reason why only now. But later when we can meet and we have communicated, we will give the compensation again," said Risma in a statement received in Jakarta, Antara.

Previously, Social Minister Risma had handed over compensation to the heirs of 17 families of the victims who died as a result of the disaster. To note, the number of victims who died due to the eruption of Mount Semeru was reported as 48 people until December 13, 2021.

In addition to providing compensation, Social Minister Risma said the Ministry of Social Affairs would help improve the skills of disaster victims to accelerate family recovery. "Later, we will continue to fix it so that they can speed up recovery. Because they started from scratch, accelerating the family's economic recovery, so we train it," he said.

Social Minister Risma said the program to accelerate economic recovery involved members of the Taruna Siaga Disaster (Tagana). The program enables disaster victims to have skills and to keep themselves busy, and can increase their family income.

As has been done by the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Tagana members have been dispatched to Majene Regency, West Sulawesi since January 2022. "In Majene, we do this as well, they were even in refugee camps in January," he said.

Compensation for victims of the second stage of the eruption of Mount Semeru, namely for 24 heirs with a total aid of Rp. 360 million.

In addition, logistical assistance will also be distributed in the form of 400 packages of ready-to-eat food and 360 packages of children's food.

The aid was sent from the warehouse of the Soeharso Solo Center of the Ministry of Social Affairs to the Refugee Post in Penanggal Village, Candipuro District, Lumajang Regency and handed over through the Coordinator of the Penanggal Command Post.

Since the eruption of Mount Semeru occurred, the Ministry of Social Affairs has responded quickly by providing logistical assistance.