BNPB Prepares Strategic Steps To Anticipate Disaster Impacts Ahead Of The 2023 Eid Homecoming Flow

Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has prepared strategic steps to anticipate the impact of disasters that occur ahead of the homecoming flow and the backflow of the Idulfitri 1444 Hijri/Lebaran 2023 holiday.

Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto revealed that there is a potential for wet and dry hydrometeorological disasters during the Lebaran homecoming period later.

"Based on the results of coordination, it is a big challenge, namely floods, landslides, and extreme weather," said Suharyanto as in a written statement, quoted from Antara, Saturday, April 8.

In addition, while attending the Coordination Meeting for Preparedness to Face Eid al-Fitr 1444 Hijriah and its anticipation which was held at the National Police Headquarters, Jakarta, on Thursday 6 April, Suharyanto said that forest and land fires (karhutla) may also occur in several provinces and until now Riau and Jambi have established an emergency alert status.

"BNPB supports land extinguishing equipment and also its personnel, then prepares helicopters in six priority provinces with a total of 46 helicopters," he continued.

The priority provinces for handling forest and land fires in question are Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan. In these areas 13 patrol helicopters and 33 water bombing helicopters have been prepared.

BNPB and related agencies will prevent the disaster, one of which is by using Weather Modification Technology (TMC).

"TMC can be done to reduce rain and increase rain according to disaster management. For TMC forest and land fires, it is useful to bring rain and extinguish fires, for areas that have the potential for flooding and landslides can also use TMC," he said.

The next step, BNPB made disaster-prone maps for the islands of Sumatra, Java, and Bali, for people who want to go home.

"Disposing of disaster-prone maps in Java, Bali, and Sumatra, related to floods, landslides and extreme weather," said Suharyanto.

"Then cooperate with BPBD, ministries, institutions, and local governments, to monitor the implementation of homecoming at points that will build up travelers," he added.

He hopes that with these steps travelers and the community can meet their families in their hometowns safely and comfortably.

"Hopefully, in the implementation of the 2023 homecoming, people will be free from disasters and run smoothly," he said.

This coordination meeting was held in a hybrid manner attended by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, the National Police Chief, the TNI Commander, the relevant ministers and deputy ministers, as well as the leaders of other institutions, including police elements in the regions.