'€œI am happy to meet you, [but[ you must be patient. Your homes, land and damaged infrastructure can still be repaired. The most important thing is to first save lives,'€ said Yudhoyono during a visit to an evacuation post in Pujon district, Malang regency, East Java, on Tuesday, as quoted by Antara news agency.

The President also hoped that evacuees would obey evacuation instructions from officials because greater priority was placed on their safety.

In the visit, Yudhoyono, who was accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, took an opportunity to interact with the evacuees.

Speaking from a mobile library at the in SAE Pujon evacuation post, Yudhoyono and his wife spoke to children affected by Mt. Kelud'€™s activity.

The President said Indonesian children must remain confident, brave and enthusiastic in any situation, including when they were faced calamities.

Yudhoyono also urged children at the evacuation post to be more diligent with their studies and to help their parents and communities.

The First Lady asked the childrens'€™ opinions on many issues related to Mt. Kelud'€™s eruption, such as why they had to evacuate.

'€œAre there any of you that understand why you are here and why you must wear face masks?'€ she asked. The children replied they had to remain at the evacuation post as Mt. Kelud had erupted, spewing ash everywhere.

Yudhoyono and his entourage then visited a public kitchen at the main evacuation shelter in Pujon district. They later visited an evacuation post at the Ganesha Sports Stadium in Batu, Malang. (ebf)

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