President Leaves For N Sumatra

Medan, N Sumatra, Jan 23 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono left for North Sumatra on Thursday morning to visit victims of the ongoing Mount Sinabung eruptions as part of his two-day working visit in the province. The President will inspect a number of evacuee camps throughout Thursday and spend the night in one of the camps. Yudhoyono on Wednesday night offered a number of solutions to handle victims of the volcano`s eruptions. "Among the solutions are avoiding fatalities, serving evacuees, providing farmers with assistance and resettling residents living in dangerous areas," the President tweeted on his twitter account @SBYudhoyono. The President said he would take a policy on the handling of Sinabung evacuees after listening views from the North Sumatra governor and Karo district head during the visit. The President`s entourage includes First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi and a number of other top officials. Before leaving for North Sumatra, the President inspected a weather modification command post at the Halim Perdanakusuma Military Airport in East Jakarta. Earlier, on Wednesday, head of the North Sumatra communication and information office Jumsadi Damanik said the President is scheduled to arrive at the Soewondo military base in the North Sumatra provincial capital of Medan at 9 a.m. local time. Later he will head straight to Karo district for dialogs with evacuees. The head of state will return to Medan on Friday at 8 a.m. In Medan, he will stay at JW Marriot Hotel where he is expected to perform Friday prayers. On Friday evening, the President will inspect Kualanamu Airport where he is expected to plant a tree. The President and his entourage will return to Jakarta on Saturday morning.