TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
President visits Mount Sinabung, asks refugees to be patient
President Susilo Bambang Yu-dhoyono went to Mount Sinabung Monday for the first time after the volcano started erupting 10 days ago, visiting makeshift shelters hosting more than 21,000 refugees and inspecting disaster management operations
Change Size
P
resident Susilo Bambang Yu-dhoyono went to Mount Sinabung Monday for the first time after the volcano started erupting 10 days ago, visiting makeshift shelters hosting more than 21,000 refugees and inspecting disaster management operations.
The presidential entourage arrived after a two-hour car trip from the provincial capital, Medan, made under bad weather.
A group of children at one shelter welcomed Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono with the popular song Buat Apa Susah (No Need to Worry).
Yudhoyono told residents to remain patient during their stay at the shelters and to return home only after the volcano was no longer a threat.
“I understand it’s not pleasant to stay in these shelters for days but I hope you can all be patient and pray that Mt. Sinabung will no longer be dangerous so you can all return to your homes,” he told evacuees at the Jambur Sempakata community hall, where the President and his entourage were prevented from departing for several minutes by heavy rain.
Yudhoyono also urged the North Sumatra provincial administration to properly care for the evacuees, especially their psychological health.
“Pay attention to the condition of evacuees. Prevent infectious diseases and epidemics. The people’s health should be a priority,” said Yudhoyono.
The President was accompanied by Coordinating Public Welfare Minister Agung Laksono, Social Services Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri, Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto and National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri.
From Jambur Sempataka, the President and his entourage inspected the main Mt. Sinabung eruption disaster mitigation post and media center, which was located next to the official residence of Karo Regent Daniel Daulat Sinulingga.
At the command post, Yudhoyono said that the most important thing was for relief aid to be distributed immediately.
“We have gone through many similar experiences, including the Yogyakarta earthquake and the Aceh tsunami. I’m aware that aid distribution in those cases was poor. This must not take place in Karo,” said Yudhoyono.
Some refugees said that they were happy to meet Yudhoyono.
Sukanalu resident Rekat Sitepu, 57, said that he was happy the President came to see them and had brought in Rp 3 billion (US$333,000) in central government aid.
Rekat said he hoped that the provincial administration would follow the President’s instructions and immediately distribute relief aid.
Tremors had continued and were increasing in frequency inside Mt. Sinabung on Monday, despite the volcano’s calm appearance, Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) head Surono said.
He said that based on observations made over the last three days, there had been 55 small-scale volcanic tremors that could not be sensed by humans.
“We estimate that the volcano is currently gathering energy,” Surono said.
