Indonesian Ministers to Mark Independence Day with Earthquake Victims in NTT

Several Indonesian ministers and state officials are set to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the nation's Independence Day alongside residents affected by the recent earthquake in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). This decision stems from President Prabowo Subianto's urgent call for immediate and coordinated government action to manage the earthquake's impact.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, stated that central government officials will be dispersed across the affected regions. Their mission is to oversee relief operations according to their respective duties and responsibilities. These officials will participate in Independence Day ceremonies not in the capital, Jakarta, but within the communities grappling with the disaster's consequences.

"We will divide tasks to the field (disaster-affected locations) and then tomorrow we will hold ceremonies not in Jakarta, but we will join the independence day ceremonies in various regions (affected by the earthquake)," Pratikno explained after a coordination meeting in Manggarai Barat Regency, NTT.

Their presence in the disaster zones is intended to address critical issues and ensure that the needs of the affected population are promptly met. Pratikno emphasized the importance of continuous coordination, even when officials are in different locations. This effort is part of a broader government response that began immediately after the earthquake struck.

A joint team, including Pratikno, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo, Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto, and Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Mohammad Syafii, departed for the affected areas on the night the earthquake occurred. Their presence aims to oversee the entire relief process, from the emergency response phase through rehabilitation and reconstruction. The government is also strengthening coordination through a unified command post system to expedite and target aid delivery effectively.