Vice President: Disaster Preparedness Is Important To Reduce The Impact Of Losses

Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka When Opening Preparedness Apples And National Baznas Disaster Response Coordination Meeting (BTB) And Baznas Health House (RSB) 2024 At Simpang Lima Semarang/ANTARA Field

SEMARANG - Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka reminded that preparedness for natural disasters is very important to reduce the impact or losses caused.

"Indonesia as a country located in the 'ring of fire' has a high level of disaster risk, both floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and others," he said in Semarang as reported by ANTARA, Friday, December 13.

This was conveyed when he opened the National Coordination Meeting and Preparedness Ceremony (Rakornas) Baznas Disaster Response (BTB) and Baznas Health Center (RSB) 2024 at Simpang Lima Field Semarang.

The impact of the disaster, said the Vice President, was exacerbated by increasingly extreme climate change.

The vice president said that in 2023 there had been around 5,400 disasters that resulted in 36,000 units of infrastructure and more than eight million people being affected.

In addition, natural disasters that occur also result in the impact of derivatives which often add to the vulnerability and society, both related to poverty, continuation of education, and health.

"Therefore, preparedness in dealing with disasters is very important to reduce the losses incurred," he said.

The Vice President highly appreciated the active role of Baznas, volunteers, and Baznas partners who have synergized to assist the government in assisting the handling of national disasters, both at the disaster emergency response stage, post-disaster recovery to efforts to reduce disaster risks such as Disaster Response Villages and the Prosperous Bangkit Community Program.

Gibran hopes that Baznas can further strengthen its role in disaster management based on the community, both providing disaster preparedness training to the community, building emergency schools, providing scholarships and school needs for children who are victims of disasters.

In fact, the creation of new economic growth points in relocation sites, as well as the distribution of productive assistance for the economic independence of disaster victims.

"Please maintain the transparency of accountability and efficiency of the distribution of alms infaq zakat which is used for disaster management so that it can further increase public and public trust," he said.

"Let us continue to work hand in hand, help each other, work together in carrying out humanitarian missions to help ease the burden on society in disaster management in the country," he concluded.