Press Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia During Visitation to Displaced Residents of Cianjur Earthquake, Cianjur Regency, West Java Province, December 5, 2022

Journalist

Mr. President, you just visited displaced residents, how’s their condition now?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

I noticed that all the displaced residents are healthy, but many of them want the house construction to start immediately. This morning, I am here to ensure that the construction of relocation houses for the affected residents must begin today.

Second, in Thursday— once the verification process is complete—we will distribute aids for the affected residents who will not relocated. Each household with heavy-damaged house will receive Rp50 million. Moderate-damaged ones will receive Rp25 million and light-damaged ones will receive Rp10 million. We will distribute it on Thursday so the people can start repair their houses and engage in other economic activities; thus propelling the economic wheels. That is what we expect.

Journalist

How will the aids be distributed?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Some are direct, some are through savings. Everyone, here’s the system set up. And this is me coming here to check the preparation.

There will be two channels, namely direct distribution and bank accounts. We have prepared the scheme and I am here to check its readiness.

Journalist

How long does the first batch construction process take?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

This is no small feat. The total is 56 thousand houses to be build, not a small feat. We want the construction to finish as soon as possible. We want to start the reconstruction immediately so that the houses can be finished as soon as possible for the people are already rain-soaked and suffer from cold in the evacuation tents

Journalist

How safe is the relocation area compared to their previous locations?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

The relocation area was selected through a study from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and Geological Agency.

Journalist

How about other necessities, let’s say food and healthcare, does the Government plan to distribute it today or what?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

I think there is no problem here.

(GWH/EP)