The Ministry Of Social Affairs Prepares Social Barns In Pasaman, So Disaster Victims Can Be Independent If There Are Aftershocks

Social Minister Tri Rismaharini has prepared a Social Barn to deal with possible aftershocks. (photo: doc. between)

PASANG - The earthquake disaster in Pasaman, Friday, February 25, has made people suffer. For this reason, the Ministry of Social Affairs plans to prepare a social granary in Nagari Kajai, Talamau District, West Pasaman Regency, West Sumatra Province.

The existence of social granaries or places to store supplies of items needed during the disaster emergency response period will facilitate the distribution of aid for disaster victims.

"We will study to build a social granary so that residents are independent in case of aftershocks," said Social Minister Tri Rismaharini, to Antara, while visiting residents affected by the earthquake in Nagari Kajai, Saturday, February 26.

Risma said that currently mobilizing aid for disaster victims takes time because the residential areas affected by the earthquake last Friday are located about 15 kilometers from the capital of West Pasaman Regency at Simpang Empat.

The provision of social granaries in disaster-prone areas will speed up and facilitate the distribution of aid during the disaster emergency response period.

The Ministry of Social Affairs has sent aid in the form of food, drinks, tents, mattresses, blankets, baby equipment, family equipment, kitchen utensils, children's clothing, and adult clothing for earthquake victims in West Pasaman.

According to government interim data, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 that occurred on Friday morning in the West Pasaman region caused four people to die, 19 people to be seriously injured, seven people were moderately injured, and 36 people were slightly injured.

The earthquake also caused damage to about 5,000 buildings and forced about 10,000 people to evacuate.

On the occasion of a visit to the disaster site, Minister Risma also visited children who were in refugee camps in Kenagarian Kajai, Talamau, West Pasaman.

Risma warmly greeted dozens of children who immediately welcomed her under the refugee camp. He then handed them over to help.

"Today I came with the team to visit the survivors and at the same time hand over the aid," said Risma who was accompanied by the Regent of Pasaman Barat Hamsuardi at Simpang Ampek, Saturday.

After visiting the children, he immediately checked the houses of residents who were heavily damaged in the Kenagarian Kajai area. He also symbolically handed over compensation to the heirs who died after the earthquake amounting to Rp. 15 million.

According to him, the checks were carried out to determine further actions to be taken by the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs, in coordination with the local government and related agencies.

In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs also carries out trauma healing efforts for children in refugee camps.

The trauma recovery was guided by a team of Psychosocial Support Services (LDP) in the hope of relieving their trauma after experiencing an earthquake.

Social Minister Tri Rismharini is in the midst of earthquake victims in Pasaman. (photo: doc. Antara)

The LDP team seemed to mingle with dozens of children in the refugee camp, holding questions and answers, playing and singing together.

The Head of the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs Handayani Center, Sulis Tya, said that the recovery for the children would be carried out in stages and continued.

Kenagarian Kajai is an area that was severely affected by the earthquake that occurred last Friday with a magnitude of 6.1, centered in West Pasaman.

Many houses collapsed and suffered heavy damage, as a result residents had to evacuate because their houses could no longer be occupied.

At a local location, there was also one mosque that collapsed during the earthquake, namely the Kajai Grand Mosque which claimed one life on behalf of Anismar (70).