2.219 Refugees Due To Semeru Eruption Accompanied In 12 Locations, East Java BPBD Continues To Be Distributed By Assistance Until Tonight

A number of residents at the location affected by the hot cloud disaster from Mount Semeru, Lumajang Regency, Sunday (4/12/2022). (ANTARA/HO-SAR Surabaya)

The East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) facilitated 2,219 people in refugee camps due to the eruption accompanied by hot clouds from Mount Semeru, Lumajang Regency. The Head of the East Java BPBD, Gatot Soebroto, explained that the thousands of refugees are currently being accommodated in 12 places. "We accommodate as many as 266 refugees in SDN 4 Supiturang, 79 people in Supiturang Mosque, 70 people at Nurul Jadid Pronojiwo Mosque, 217 people at Oro-oro Ombo Village Hall, 100 people at SMPN 2 Pronojiwo, 119 people at SDN 2 Sumberurip and 228 people at Sumberurip Village Hall," said Gatot in a written statement received in Surabaya, Antara, Sunday, December 4. In addition, 131 refugees were accommodated at the Penanggal Village Hall, 52 people at Gunung Sawu Candipuro Post, 216 people at Pasirian Village Hall, 150 people at Candipuro Field and the most 600 people at Candipuro District Office. "We have prepared temporary referral care facilities at the Pasirian, Tempeh, Penanggal and Candipuro Health Centers," he said. Gatsu, the nickname of the East Java BPBD, confirmed that until tonight the officers were still carrying out the process of collecting data on the refugees in order to maximize aid. "This data is in process so that it can change until the data collection ends," he said. The coordination process with the Lumajang BPBD continues to be carried out to collect data regarding the logistical needs of refugees. In addition, to minimize the dangers of volcanic ash in refugee camps, the East Java BPBD has also sent masks to the surrounding community and assisted in evacuating residents to evacuation points. The East Java BPBD confirmed that it had distributed initial aid that had been sent on Sunday afternoon including 200 food packages, 50 carton instant noodles, 1,000 kilograms of rice, 200 liters of oil, 200 kilograms of sugar, 200 cans of merchandise, 100 cartons of mineral water, 100 sheets of blankets, 50 tarpaulins, 50 folding mattresses and 50 pillows. In addition, 50 packages of women's clothing, 50 packages of male clothing, 12 cartons of determinants, 2 cartons of bath soap, 10,000 sheets of cloth masks, 10,000 sheets of medical masks, 4,000 child masks, 6,000 adult cloth masks. "This assistance will continue to flow," he said. The East Java BPBD, continued Gatsu, has also deployed aid vehicles in the early stages in the form of 1 multipurpose truck, multipurpose pickup, ranger car and operational service car. Meanwhile, the total preliminary team deployed for the first time by the East Java BPBD was 15 personnel. "We urge the public not to carry out activities within a radius of 19 kilometers from the location of the eruption area because until now the hot cloud avalanches have reached 17 kilometers," he said.