Vice President Gibran Reviews Earthquake Relief in Sikka

RRI.CO.ID, Sikka - Vice President Gibran Rakabuming inspected post-earthquake relief efforts in Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Thursday, August 20, 2026. The government is ensuring that affected residents' basic needs, including food, security, and educational services, continue to be met throughout the recovery process.

The first location the Vice President visited was SD Inpres 76 Wairklau, which is also serving as an evacuation center. There, VP Gibran inspected the school's condition and spoke with local residents and officials regarding the evacuees' needs.

VP Gibran personally checked on the children present at the site. He inquired about food availability and asked if any children had been injured.

“Have the children eaten?” he asked the evacuees. “Are the children injured or anything, right? No injuries? Is everyone safe?”

He also handed over baby supplies to a mother. The inspection was conducted to ensure that the needs of affected residents would serve as the foundation for post-disaster relief and recovery efforts.

Despite the use of school facilities as evacuation centers, the government is ensuring that education remains a priority. According to VP Gibran, post-disaster recovery is not merely about repairing physical damage. It must also ensure that children can return to a safe and comfortable learning environment.

During the visit, he encouraged university students to participate in the recovery process, particularly helping to address disaster victims' trauma. The involvement of the younger generation is seen as a form of gotong royong (mutual cooperation) to assist affected communities.

The vice president’s visit to NTT is part of an assessment of conditions facing the community and public service facilities affected by the disaster. He is also scheduled to visit several locations in the Manggarai and East Manggarai regencies. These direct inspections are expected to help the government tailor recovery measures to residents' actual needs.

Post-disaster mitigation includes meeting basic needs, restoring public services, supporting vulnerable groups, and accelerating the recovery of educational facilities.

The government says public safety and helping those affected are top priorities in its disaster response. The government, the community, students, and other groups are expected to work together to speed up recovery. ***