Jakarta (5 November 2024) - Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) ensured that the victims of the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara received proper and adequate social assistance. “We have distributed aid since yesterday. Today Pak Wamen (Vice Minister of Social Affairs) also directly go to the location to ensure assistance for the victims,” said Gus Ipul on Tuesday (5/11/2024).

Shortly after the eruption, said Gus Ipul, Ministry of Social Affairs had also deployed the Disaster Preparedness Cadets (Tagana) to evacuate victims and set up a public kitchen.  The Disaster Preparedness Village (KSB) formed by the Ministry of Social Affairs also immediately set up an independent kitchen to help refugees.

Until now, a team from the Directorate of Social Protection for Victims of Natural Disasters (PSKBA) of the Ministry of Social Affairs has also been in the field, coordinating with the Social Service and local governments.  Efforts made include evacuation, assessment of urgent needs, and establishing a public kitchen to support the food needs.

Vice Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo Priyono is also currently in Kupang and will depart for East Flores via Larantuka Harbour to coordinate Ministry's aid.  Ministry of Social Affairs has also sent three trucks of logistical assistance worth a total of Rp1.2 billion from the Sentra Effata Warehouse in Kupang.

This assistance includes 1,500 ready-to-eat food packages, 1,000 children's food packages, 400 mattresses, 500 blankets, 300 family kit packages, 300 kids' ware packages, and 400 sheets of rolling tents.  A total of 10 units of multipurpose tents and 2 units of portable toilets were also sent to support evacuation facilities. In addition, Ministry of Social Affairs will also distribute 10,000 pieces of masks to affected residents.

Basic food assistance of 2,500 packages worth Rp500 million will also be distributed.  For the heirs of the dead, the Ministry of Social Affairs has prepared compensation of IDR 135 million.  Furthermore, Ministry of Social Affairs will provide psychosocial support services (LDP) to help the mental recovery of the survivors. For information, a major eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki occurred on 3 November 2024 at 23:57 WITA. This eruption resulted in an increase in the mountain's status from Level III (Alert) to Level IV (Caution).

The Regent of East Flores has declared an emergency response status for 58 days, starting from 4 November to 31 December 2024.  This eruption severely affected seven villages in the Wulanggitang sub-district and one village in the Ilebura sub-district. The death victims were recorded at 10 people, 63 people were injured, with details of 31 people suffering serious injuries and 32 people suffering minor injuries.  A total of 2,472 people were displaced to three centralized evacuation points, namely in Konga Village which accommodated 1,219 people, Bokang Village with 606 evacuees, and Hokeng with 647 evacuees.

In addition to centralized evacuation centers, there are also independent evacuation centers in the local residents houses, the number of which is still being collected. Damage to buildings caused by this eruption is also being recorded by Ministry of Social Affairs.