Entering The Dry Season, East Flores Budgets IDR 2 Billion To Anticipate Drought Disasters

Illustration of drought in NTB (ANTARA)

KUPANG - The government of East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, has prepared a budget of around Rp. 2 billion to anticipate the potential impact of drought during the 2023 dry season.

"There are funds for unexpected needs prepared of around Rp. 2 billion which can at any time be used for disaster management, including the threat of drought," said Acting Head of the East Flores Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Abdur Razak Jakra to ANTARA, Wednesday, June 7.

He conveyed this related to steps to anticipate the potential impact of drought in the 2023 dry season in East Flores, NTT.

He explained that the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) had announced the threat of drought due to the phenomenon of climate disturbances in the form of El Nino and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).

Jakra explained, regarding the anticipation of the long dry impact, his party has also received a Decree from the Governor of NTT regarding the status of emergency alert for handling drought and forest and land fires.

One of the steps prepared, he said, was that in terms of a budget of around Rp. 2 billion, it was ready to be used to anticipate the impact of drought, such as the provision of clean water, logistical assistance, and so on.

"The funds are in the Regional Finance and Assets Agency, which we call BTT funds or on calls that can be used at any time," he said.

Jakra explained, for other technical steps, his party will also immediately hold meetings with various other relevant agencies in the local area in the context of mitigating drought.

"Along with that, we have also prepared a letter to be submitted to all sub-district heads in East Flores to prepare anticipatory steps against potential drought," he said.

Jakra also invites all elements of residents in the district to always be ready to face the threat of drought and take necessary mitigation steps such as ensuring sufficient water supply, avoiding actions that trigger forest and land fires, and so on.