Indonesia: Minister urges to boost coordination on disaster handling
Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy.
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy urged all relevant institutions to strengthen coordination for disaster handling following the recent increase in rainfall.
“All relevant institutions and parties must focus on disaster handling to prevent unwanted effects,” the minister noted when confirmed on Tuesday.
Effendy explained that disasters due to extreme weather had occurred in several regions of the country.
“In the last two days, the southern route of East Java to Bali has been hit by severe flood and landslide that caused a lot of losses. It is estimated that this extreme hydrometeorological condition will continue in the coming days,” he remarked.
He emphasized that to minimize the impacts of disasters, improving data precisely and quickly was deemed crucial as a guideline for decision-making and disaster mitigation.
To this end, he called to continually update disaster-related data in the field following the bolstering of cross-sectoral coordination.
He affirmed that the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture had held a ministerial meeting on disaster handling.
“The minister has held a coordination meeting with relevant ministries and institutions to strengthen coordination in disaster handling,” he stated.
Alertness against hydrometeorological disasters is needed to prepare apposite and prompt actions, he stressed.
“This year’s hydrometeorological disasters have a vast spectrum, as they coincide with very serious global economic problems. Thus, right and quick steps are needed,” he remarked.
The minister noted that comprehensive disaster mitigation and handling efforts should become a main priority to minimize the number of victims and the risk that may emerge and to avoid having an impact on economic growth.
In addition, they are essential to prevent hindrances in the smooth running of public transportation and the supply of basic needs, he added.
