Regional governments to provide aid for NTB quake victims

Jakarta, InfoPublik – Home Ministry’s appeal to all regional governments to provide aids to earthquake victims in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) received positive response.

"Some local governments asks us to prepare a legal umbrella. They say that although it’s voluntarily, legal problems may occur in the future and they don’t want that to happen," Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said in a written statement on Friday (8/24).

According to the minister, the Ministry will issue a circular letter regarding the types of assistance, namely, in the form of goods or other types of assistance. Nevertheless, there are rules that must be observed.

Tjahjo assured that the central government gives serious attention to the disaster in NTB. The budget has even been prepared by the Ministry of Finance and the private sector.

"The Governor of NTB’s letter which is addressed to all governors is normal because they all indeed are members of an association that upholds mutual cooperation. The main point is they expressed solidarity to help NTB," he explained.

He added that he had sent radiograms to all governors who have a huge stock of tent to lend them to the victims in NTB.

Previously, Tjahjo had written letters to all regional governments to provide assistance on the post-disaster actions following the appeal from NTB Governor Muhammad Zainul Majdi. (Reporter: Eko Budiono, Translator: Erik Limantara)