Since dispatched to the province of West Sumatera on 8 October 2009, around 225 officers from Jakarta Capital City Public Order Police Squad (Satpol PP) have been working hard for the sake of humanity in the earthquake-hit area. They help evacuate victims as well as rehabilitate areas affected by the last month’s disaster.
In order to help the quake victims, Jakarta Capital City Government has sent donations to the calamity-stricken areas in West Sumatra; they are 7 thousands of basic need packages and 1 truck of clothes, blankets and other needs; along with 9 trucks, 14 operational vehicles, 1 ambulance, 4 units of personal vehicles, and 6 motorcycles. In addition, logistic donations consisting 10 stretchers, 24 tents, 20 folding beds, axes, and saws have also been delivered to the region.
Jakarta Capital City Public Order Police Squad (Satpol PP) head Harianto Badjoeri says among the tasks undertaken by his officers are helping in the logistic distribution especially in remote areas, and razing heavily damaged buildings to clean the rubbles.
Based on the data collected by Jakarta Satpol PP, there are tens of heavily damaged buildings which have been dismantled. They are 16 school buildings, 11 houses, and 6 mosques.
According to him, the condition in West Sumatera province has not been back to normal so far. The powerful earthquake has caused 704 people dead, 745 people severely injured, 1,343 lightly injured, 410 still missing; 88,277 houses were also damaged by the disaster. “We are now focusing on the area of Sungai Limau, Pariaman in which around 6,000 buildings are heavily damage. Many of them are social facilities,” he said.
Jakarta Capital City government is planning to build an earthquake-resistant school building in Pariaman. However, the construction is still waiting for the completion of building design. “The school will also be used as a shelter and emergency hospital in case a similar earthquake recurs,” he added.