UI SENDS BLANKETS, SARONGS TO TASIKMALAYA QUAKE VICTIMS

Depok, W Java, Sept 12 (ANTARA) -The University of Indonesia (UI) provided 1143 blankets and 296 sarongs which will be sent immediately to the earthquake victims in Tasikmalaya, West Java, a spokesperson said.

"This assistance is provided to relieve the earthquake victims' burden," UI deputy director of communications affairs, Devie Rahmawati, said here, Saturday.

The assistance will be immediately sent to residents in the villages of Marga Mukti, Pengalengan, Tribakti Mulya, Pengalengan district, West Java, she said.

The assistance is provided on the basis of the result of a survey indicating there is an urgent need for blankets, because many refugees suffered from illness and some had even died of very cold weather.

According to her, UI on September 5 and 7, 2009 sent assistance to the West Java quake victims comprising one ton of rice, 80 boxes of instant noodle, 65 boxes of mineral water, 100 blankets, 100 packages of bathing equipment (soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and detergents), medical supplies and foods.

Devie pointed out that in disaster management, UI has two special programs, in the short-run the program covered direct aid, and under the long-term program UI scientists and experts of various fields such as psychology, health care, and civil engineering were involved in the assistance.

An earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale that shook West Java on September 2, 2009 hit 16 districts in West Java province, leaving 73 people dead and more than 600 others injured.

In West Java alone 54,171 houses were seriously damaged and 114,601 others lightly in the earthquake.

The quake also caused major damage to 1,246 houses and light damage to 1,446 houses in Cilacap district, Central Java.