VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Health minister Nila Moeloek said hospitals affected by the recent quake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi have become operational again and are ready to serve people who were wounded in the disasters.

"The focus of our health team has been on helping to re-open the hospitals," she said in Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Wednesday.

She said the medical staff had started making use of the health facilities in the hospitals.

She admitted service was still hindered, especially for surgeries, as the procedure required electronic medical equipment.

"Our obstacle is the absence of electricity and we have trouble conducting surgery. Good generators are available but they need gasoline to operate which is difficult to get," she said.

Moeloek said the health team still needs gasoline to operate generators and clean water for medical purposes.

She said the health team remained focused on serving health posts, providing medicines, additional nutrition and maintaining a healthy environment.

"We know many bodies have been put in the hospitals. They have to be sprayed to kill germs," she said.

She hoped no emergency situation would develop with regard to the possible emergence of diseases such as diarrhea. "We must be alert," she said.

Earlier, on September 28 afternoon local time, a 7.4-magnitude quake shook Palu, Central Sulawesi, and triggered a tsunami along the coast of Donggala.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) mentioned that so far, the death toll was 1,407, while 2,549 people suffered serious injuries. (ANTARA)

US President Donald Trump contacted Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to express his condolences and offer assistance to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi province.

"Trump appreciated the leadership of the Indonesian government in responding to the crisis," a written statement from the United States Embassy in Jakarta received by ANTARA in Jakarta Wednesday.

The US government is offering assistance and is ready to work with the Indonesian government to identify additional assistance from the US as the best support effort.

Previously, the Indonesian government had refused the US assistance, in the form of army troops and hospital ships, during the emergency response period in Palu and Donggala as it had sufficient resources.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla explained that the Indonesian government prioritized assistance from other countries that could be used for rehabilitation and reconstruction. Meanwhile, the number of Indonesian troops and the amount of logistics for the emergency response period were available.

"Every aid from foreign countries should be directly used. Therefore, we focus more on foreign aid for rehabilitation and reconstruction similar to the time when we handled the earthquake and tsunami in Aceh," Kalla stated.

He explained that assistance from foreign countries to victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Aceh in 2004 was used for rehabilitations and reconstruction of houses.

Every foreign aid for people in Palu will also be used for similar purposes. (ANTARA)

Chairman of the National Committee of IMF-WB 2018 annual meeting, Susiwijono Moegiarso said that in the future financial technology or fintech will boost the world digital economy including in Indonesia. Therefore, fintech development will specifically be discussed during the IMF-WB meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali on October 8th to 13th 2018. To the media Susiwijono stated that IMF-WB has analyzed and made 12 principles or element about fintech. It was formulated based on the agenda of member countries that have influence the financial cycle, stability and integrity.  

“There will be an agreement of the fintech development principles in the future. So we ask OJK and all related ministries to involve deeper. Yesterday we have discussed it and it already delivered to the IMF-WB. So all countries have given their suggestions. So the final product consists of 12 elements of Bali fintech agenda that have been agreed. This will be approved and released in Bali to become Bali Fintech Agenda so the whole world will be take it as a reference to develop fintech in the future,” said Susiwijono Moegiarso.

Susiwijono further said that the twelve elements do not include business development but it will be arranged on the regulation, and 189 countries that gathered have agreed for the big principles. Bali Fintech Agenda is only a side meeting that was initiated by Indonesia. Indonesian President Joko Widodo is scheduled to be a keynote speaker on the meeting that will be held on Thursday October 11th 2018. Afterward will be a panel discussion with the managing director of IMF Christine Lagarde, President of World Bank Jim Yong Kim, Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani and several; other delegations. (VOI/REZHA/Trans : NK/AHM)

Chairman of the National Committee of International Monetary Fund-World Bank Group (IMF-WBG) 2018 Annual meeting, Susiwijono Moegiarso said that Indonesian planning team has done several strategy to ensure the security of the IMF-WBG Annual Meeting in Nusa Dua- Bali on October 8th to 13th 2018. One of the strategies is the screening process. To the media in Jakarta recently Susiwijono said that his side was assisted by Bali regional police to screen tens of thousands participants who have registered.

“The security is really tight. So don’t make mistake if you already registered to IPT, to Indonesia planning team, we request Bali Regional Police to conduct screen. From 13, 942 participants, only 10,000 passed screening. So it will be validated again because the regional police don’t want to be out of hand. So it will totally be screened. For example if people from the ministries or agencies get notes from regional police we will see the note and take attention on it,” Susiwijono Moegiarso said.

Susiwijono further explained that his side has prepared three main plans they are security, evacuation and medical plan for the whole annual meeting participants. His side also made several times of meeting with the security apparatus including the Indonesian Armed Forces to discussed scenario if there is a disaster during the event. Susi also said IMF- World Bank as the organizer of the meeting expressed their condolences for what has happen in Palu and Donggala. However, they are sure that this annual meeting needs to be done since it is important for other countries in the future. (VOI/REZHA/Trans: NK/DP)