JAYAPURA – Papua Governor Matius D. Fakhiri visited residents of RT 03/RW 05 Dok VIII Pantai, South Jayapura District, Jayapura City, who were affected by a fire incident some time ago.
The visit reflected the Papua Provincial Government's concern in ensuring that post-disaster response and recovery efforts for the community are carried out properly.
During a meeting with residents, the Head of RT 03/RW 05, Bernat Sineri, conveyed several urgent needs faced by the affected community, ranging from house repairs and access to clean water to school supplies for children who are currently taking examinations.
"We hope that through this visit, you will pay attention to us following the incident that occurred some time ago. In addition to housing, we also ask for attention regarding the need for clean water," Bernat said in Jayapura City on Thursday, June 4, 2026.
He also hoped that the government would help meet the educational needs of children affected by the fire.
"Our children are currently taking school exams and need shoes and other school supplies, so we hope the Governor can take this into consideration," he said.
Responding to these aspirations, Papua Governor Matius D. Fakhiri expressed his sympathy for the hardship experienced by residents. He emphasized that the government would immediately take concrete steps to assist the community and accelerate the post-fire recovery process.
"I am deeply concerned about this incident. I hope the community can face this hardship with patience. I have asked the Public Works Agency to immediately carry out data collection, and I will ensure that the response process runs as quickly as possible," Fakhiri said.
The Governor assured that the homes of affected residents would be rebuilt in better condition. According to him, public safety and comfort are the local government's top priorities.
"I will speak directly with the Public Works Agency so that this work can be carried out immediately. I will strive to rebuild residents' homes in better condition than before," he said.
He also expressed gratitude that there were no fatalities in the incident. The government, he said, is ready to provide temporary accommodation for residents who lost their homes while the reconstruction process is underway.
"The most important thing is that there were no fatalities in this incident. Regarding temporary relocation, the government will place affected residents at Hotel Numbay if possible while waiting for the damaged homes to be rebuilt," he said.
Furthermore, the Governor explained that the Papua Provincial Government already has a program to reorganize the Dok VIII Pantai area. At present, the re-data collection process is still underway, meaning several areas have not yet been fully included in the ongoing program.
"I already have a program to reorganize this area. Currently, it is still in the re-data collection stage, so several areas have not yet been accommodated. Going forward, this area will be reorganized to make it more orderly and safer," he explained.
In addition to area reorganization, the government will also improve the electrical network to reduce the risk of disruptions and fires caused by short circuits.
"We have begun reorganizing the Dok 8 area. I want electrical cables to be properly arranged so they no longer look chaotic. I will also coordinate with PLN to address issues that could cause electrical short circuits," the Governor emphasized.
The Papua Provincial Government also assured that all affected residents would receive assistance and that efforts would be made to include them in housing assistance programs supported by the central government.
"I am here to ensure that affected residents receive assistance. I will also work to ensure they are included in housing programs supported by the central government," he said.
For children affected by the disaster, the Governor emphasized that educational needs such as shoes and other learning supplies would be provided immediately.
"As for the needs of affected schoolchildren, such as shoes and other learning supplies, we will provide assistance immediately," he said.
Meanwhile, North Jayapura Police Chief Frengky Rumbiak explained that based on data collected by the police, the fire, which occurred on May 7 at around 3:00 p.m. Eastern Indonesia Time, affected seven households with a total of around 60 people.
"A total of seven houses were affected, and the preliminary suspected cause of the fire was an electrical short circuit," Rumbiak explained.
The Papua Provincial Government, together with the Jayapura City Government, the police, and related agencies, will continue to strengthen collaboration in accelerating the post-fire recovery process so that residents can resume their activities safely, comfortably, and productively. ***