President leaves for N. Sumatra

JAKARTA.  President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono left for North Sumatra on Thursday morning to visit the victims of Mount Sinabung’s 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 at one of the camps.

On Wednesday night, Yudhoyono offered a number of solutions to handle the 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 posted on his Twitter account @SBYudhoyono as quoted by Antara news agency.

The President said he would decide on how to handle the Sinabung evacuees after hearing the views of the North Sumatra governor and Karo regent during the visit.

The President's entourage includes First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, 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 Halim Perdanakusuma Military Airport in East Jakarta.

Earlier on Wednesday, the head of the North Sumatra communication and information office, Jumsadi Damanik, said the President was scheduled to arrive at the Soewondo military base in North Sumatra’s provincial capital of Medan at 9 a.m. local time. Later he would head straight to Karo regency to talk with evacuees.

Yudhoyono will return to Medan on Friday at 8 a.m., where he will stay at the JW Marriot Hotel and perform Friday prayers.

On Friday evening, the President will inspect Kuala Namu International Airport where he is expected to plant a tree, before returning to Jakarta on Saturday morning.