East Java Forkopimda Send KRI Soeharso Help Masalembu

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa when dispatching KRI Dr. Soeharso-990 at Madura Pier Fleet Command (Koarmada) II Surabaya (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The East Java Provincial Leadership Coordination Forum official dispatched the Warship of the Republic of Indonesia (KRI) Dr. Soeharso-990 to send logistical assistance to the community in the Masalembu Islands cluster, Sumenep Regency.

"This complements the logistical assistance that was previously sent using KRI Malahayati-362," said East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa after dispatching KRI Dr. Soeharso-990 at Madura Pier Fleet Command (Koarmada) II Surabaya, Saturday evening.

Quoted from Antara, people in the Masalembu Islands have been isolated for more than a week due to bad weather, resulting in a food crisis.

The transportation of people and goods for Masalembu is usually served by the Perintis Belt Nusantara-92 Ship. However, more than a week the Nusantara-92 Belt Ship can only anchor anchor in the waters of Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya due to uncertain weather.

According to Khofifah, with a larger size, KRI Dr. Soeharso transports food logistics assistance and LPG gas cylinders.

"What the community there needs the most is rice and LPG. So because yesterday the ship was not this big, LPG and some basic necessities could not be transported. Now everything has been discussed by KRI Dr. Soeharso," he said.

The aid dispatched using KRI dr Soeharso includes 16 tons of rice, 300 3-kilogram LPG gas cylinders, 41 boxes of cooking oil, 20 boxes of sugar, 21 boxes of biscuits and 10 cans of bread.

In addition, 10 boxes of sweet condensed milk, 12 cardboard sardines, 30 boxes of canned fish and 5 boxes of powdered brown milk.

The assistance is assistance from the East Java Provincial Government, Regional Military Command (Kodam) V Brawijaya and Koarmada II for the people of Masalembu.

Departing this afternoon, KRI Dr. Soeharso is expected to arrive on Masalembu Island at around 06.00 WIB, Sunday morning, March 5, 2023.

Governor Khofifah ensured that logistical assistance that had been sent by ship had previously been distributed to people in the Masalembu Islands.

"Similarly, the assistance sent today will be immediately distributed as soon as it reaches there. There is a East Java BPBD team already there," he said.

The former Minister of Social Affairs hopes that the assistance sent to the people in the Masalembu Islands will be very helpful and useful.

The Commander of Koarmada II, Admiral TNI Maman Firmansyah, emphasized that he would always be ready to help local governments and the people of East Java.

"As an area with the largest number of sailors, we are committed to continuing to synergize with the East Java Provincial Government in solving problems in the community," he said.