PMI to send personnel and aid to victims of Mount Semeru eruption: Jusuf Kalla

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) has sent relief aid and deployed volunteers to conduct a rapid assessment of the needs of evacuees affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru.

PMI General Muhammad Jusuf Kalla said in a  statement here on Sunday, that the logistics team had sent the aid on Saturday evening, December 4, and a coordination meeting between central and East Java branch of PMI had been held on Sunday.

"We have prepared a number of measures in response to the Semeru eruption, the main thing is that we send basic needs first, based on the results of a quick assessment. Then evacuation efforts, health services, and also assistance for refugees follow," said Jusuf Kalla.

PMI has sent 200 hygiene packages, 50 sheets of terpaulin, 200 blankets, 100 mattresses, 50,000 surgical masks, 20,000 cloth masks, 2,000 face shields, six tents, seven water tanker trucks, and 350 new clothes.

Two Hagglund tactical vehicles will also be sent and funds will be transferred as needed.

Jusuf Kalla urged PMI's East Java branch  to provide fast food, such as bread, to fulfill the needs of the refugees.

Red Cross staff, assisted by volunteers from various villages, have evacuated residents to the evacuation posts at the Penanggal Village Hall and Sumbermujur Village Hall.

The volunteers have also set up a public kitchen in Sumberwuluh Village, Candipuro Sub-district.

Head of PMI's Disaster Mitigation Sumarsono said that volunteers from a number of areas have been dispatched to assist in response to the Semeru eruption, including volunteers from PMI's Malang office.

Sumarsono informed that as many as 40 personnel from PMI's Malang branch were deployed to help evacuation and rescue efforts. In addition, they would also send a fleet comprising one heavy field operational car, two ambulances and one trail bike.
Baca juga: Mt Semeru eruption: BNPB responded quickly evacuates residents, sends aid to victims