Central Government Assessments Local Government Capacity In Disaster Management

JAKARTA - Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian ensured that the central government would assist local governments experiencing disasters, regardless of whether or not the local government was able to deal with disasters in their regions.

"The central government wants him (the local government) to still say he can afford it, whether he wants to say surrender, can't afford it, will definitely continue to work, help and it has been since the first day," said the Minister of Home Affairs, at the Head Office of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Jakarta, Monday, December 1.

This was conveyed by the Minister of Home Affairs regarding a number of regional heads who stated that they were unable to handle large-scale disasters that occurred in their regions.

According to him, this is a natural thing for local governments who cannot handle disasters to ask for assistance from higher governments.

Tito added that the central government had also assessed each regional government regarding disaster management capabilities.

"We also assess which ones are capable, which ones are not. We think we can help. Moreover, those who say they can't afford it and indeed we see naturally that they can't afford it, because in the most difficult areas," he said again.

The Minister of Home Affairs revealed that there are areas that are completely isolated due to landslides and floods, so the only way is to ask for help from the higher government or the central government.

He then gave an example of Takengon City, whose access was cut off so that the only way to transport aid, such as food, could only use an airplane.

Another local government that also stated that it was unable to handle disasters in its area was the Central Aceh Regency Government.

Tito admitted that he understood the situation faced by regional heads whose territory was facing disasters. The regional heads cannot do much because of the limitations of heavy equipment and access.

"Where does he (Pemda) want to get logistical food if he doesn't ask the government for help on it? Then how do he want to mobilize heavy equipment? It's impossible, he can't afford it, and it's done by the central government," said the Minister of Home Affairs.