Indonesian Red Cross Ramps Up Aid for Earthquake Victims in NTT

The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) is intensifying its humanitarian efforts to support communities affected by earthquakes in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). The organization is systematically dispatching logistical aid to meet the basic needs of the population and bolster emergency response operations in the disaster-stricken areas.

To date, PMI has dispatched a total of around 20 tons of aid. This assistance has been mobilized through PMI's extensive warehousing network, which includes central, regional, and sub-regional facilities. The distribution efforts are being conducted in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU). One notable shipment departed from the National Logistics Cluster Warehouse at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in East Jakarta, utilizing a TNI AU Boeing aircraft.

Beyond Jakarta, PMI is also coordinating logistics from its central regional warehouse in Gresik, as well as sub-regional warehouses in Kupang and Mataram. To further streamline aid delivery within NTT, PMI has established a dedicated logistics hub in Labuan Bajo. This hub is crucial for consolidating and distributing incoming aid efficiently.

Ilham Huznul, Head of the Infrastructure Bureau at PMI Headquarters, stated that these logistical shipments follow directives from PMI Chairman Jusuf Kalla to bolster humanitarian operations for the earthquake-affected population in NTT. "Following the direction of PMI Chairman Mr. Jusuf Kalla, this NTT earthquake response is a major operation. We continue to mobilize logistics to meet the needs of the earthquake-affected community in NTT. To date, we have sent a total of approximately 20 tons of PMI aid in stages," Huznul said. He added that optimizing multiple warehousing points is a key strategy to expedite mobilization and distribution, ensuring aid reaches the affected areas more quickly.