Ministry plans to set up social stockroom in earthquake-hit W Pasaman

Simpang Empat, W Sumatra (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Social Affairs has plans to prepare a social storeroom for earthquake victims and evacuees in Nagari Kajai, Talamau Sub-district, West Pasaman District, West Sumatra on Saturday.

The existence of social barns or the storage of staple good supplies during the period of disaster emergency response will help assist in the distribution of assistance for disaster victims and evacuees.

"We will review the making of social barns so that people would be independent in case of aftershocks," Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini said while visiting people affected by the earthquake in Nagari Kajai on Saturday.

She pointed out that the distribution of aid for disaster victims took time because the communities which were affected by the earthquake are located about 15 km from Simpang Empat, the capital of West Pasaman District.

Therefore, Rismaharini said that the presence of social storage rooms in disaster-prone regions will help speed the distribution of assistance during the disaster emergency response period.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Affairs has sent assistance in the form of food, beverages, tents, mattresses, blankets, baby and family supplies, kitchen utensils, children's clothing, and adult clothing for earthquake victims in West Pasaman.

The earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.1 that hit West Pasaman on Friday morning (Feb 25), has killed four people, seriously injured 19 people, moderately injured seven, and lightly injured 36.

The quake also caused damages to some 5,000 buildings and forced 10,000 people to evacuate.

National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has called on his staff to promptly help communities impacted by the earthquake in West Pasaman.

Prabowo had especially urged the ranks of the West Sumatra regional police to provide shelters or tents to the affected people and conduct evacuations for residents in need.