Jakarta, March 18 -- Minister of Social Affairs, Syaifullah Yusuf, has assured that his ministry will soon deliver logistical assistance to meet the needs of earthquake-hit residents in North Tapanuli and Mandailing Natal districts of North Sumatra.

Speaking in Jakarta on Tuesday, he informed that the Social Affairs Ministry intends to mobilize its disaster preparedness cadets (Tagana) to prepare and distribute aid from "social barns," in collaboration with local governments.

"The assistance items will include medicines, ready-to-eat meals, and other types of necessities that we typically provide. The Ministry of Social Affairs will surely distribute the aid soon," he told the media.

He said that the ministry, along with local authorit...