REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MANOKWARI -- The Indonesian Military has established four assistance posts to mitigate the effects of the earthquake disaster that occurred on September 25, 2015, in Sorong of West Papua.
"The posts were established to serve the needs and handle the complaints of the earthquake victims," Chief of Sorong 1704 Military Area Command Lieutenant Colonel Aulia Fahmi stated during a telephonic conversation on Tuesday.
Aulia remarked that the Indonesian Military had coordinated with the Sorong Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency to establish the health posts.
The Indonesian Military is also routinely coordinating with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency to anticipate the aftershocks.
The chief has deployed military soldiers to assist the people of Sorong in clearing out the debris of houses that collapsed during the earthquake.
Additionally, Head of the West Papua Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency Derek Abner stated that the earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale had damaged 257 houses in Sorong.
The disaster did not lead to any casualties. However, 35 people suffered minor injuries, and four others suffered serious injuries as they were hit by debris from the collapsing buildings.
"The total material losses due to the earthquake are estimated at billions of rupiah," Derek said.
Assistance and protests
Social Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa on Monday delivered food assistance to the Sorong residents affected by the earthquake disaster.
The ministry handed over 2.5 thousand food packages, 2.5 thousand toddler meals, and 40 thousand packets of instant noodles. The total assistance funds given by the ministry reached Rp311.15 million.
The local government also distributed 60 tons of regional rice reserves to the earthquake victims in Sorong.
The social minister's entourage visiting Sorong was blocked by the protesters in Giwu Village of Sorong City who demanded assistance to be delivered immediately.
The people were enraged as they considered that the local government was slow in delivering assistance to them. The protesters, mostly comprising women and children, admitted to have not received any assistance after the earthquake occurred on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Sorong City Mayor Lambert has held a dialog with the protesters. The people can understand that the government will immediately send the assistance and aid.
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