Deputy Chairman Of Commission I Of The DPR Asks The Government To Set Aceh-Sumatra Floods As National Disasters

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission I DPR RI Sukamta asked the Government to immediately determine the status of flood disasters in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra as national disasters. According to him, the determination of this status cannot be postponed any longer.

"As we have seen reports in various media, the scale of the disaster is very wide with great damage. Many people were injured and injured, while there are still many victims who are missing," Sukamta told reporters, Monday, December 1.

In addition, continued Sukamta, there are still many isolated areas and have not been able to get access to aid. In fact, some district governments are paralyzed and unable to respond to disaster emergency.

"Seeing this situation, the Government should immediately determine it as a national scale disaster," said the PKS legislator from the DIY electoral district.

Sukamta acknowledged that the Government was maximal for disaster response by sending rescue teams from BNPB and SAR, deploying TNI/Polri personnel and sending logistical assistance. However, according to him, the determination as a national scale disaster will have a positive psychological impact on local governments and communities affected by the disaster.

"Don't let people affected by disasters and local governments feel left behind by the government just because they are late in setting disaster status to a national scale. This is important to increase moral strength that is being affected by disasters," he said.

In addition to accelerating and expanding the coverage of the disaster response process, Sukamta assessed that the determination of national-scale disasters also has another important side to the government's attention. "That is, the current disaster suspicion is exacerbated due to forest destruction," said the Deputy Chairperson of the PKS faction.

Sukamta emphasized that the Government must immediately investigate allegations of forest destruction due to the actions of corporations. He reminded that the corporate omission of forest destruction perpetrators will have the potential to cause vulnerability to security and disrupt national resilience.

"Many parties have voiced this, because the damage to forests in various locations can be seen through satellite imagery. I hope the government acts immediately," he concluded.

As is known, flash floods and landslides hit the Aceh region and parts of Sumatra, especially North Sumatra and West Sumatra.

Based on a recent report from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the number of victims who died from floods and landslides in Aceh, West Sumatra to North Sumatra is now recorded at 442 people. Meanwhile, 402 people are still being searched.

As of Sunday, November 30 evening, BNPB together with relevant stakeholders are still making efforts to search for missing victims.