Coordinating Minister For Human Development And Culture Reminds East Java To Beware Of Disasters During Christmas-New Year

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno gave information after the coordination meeting at the Grahadi State building in Surabaya, Tuesday (17/12/2024). (ANTARA/Willi Irawan)

SURABAYA - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Pratikno reminded the East Java Provincial Government (Pemprov) and local district/city governments to be aware of the threat of disasters in the midst of the 2024 Christmas and 2025 New Year moments.

"All areas in East Java must be ready to face the risk of hydrometeorological disasters, which in December, January, February are expected to be quite high," he said after the coordination meeting at the Grahadi State building in Surabaya, reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, December 17.

Pratikno received a report from the Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) regarding which areas have the potential for very high rainfall.

Then there are also wind, waves, and others that must be mitigated together.

"But the government is ready, BNPB has prepared sufficient detailed steps together with local governments, so the point is that infrastructure in the regions must be prepared as well as possible to deal with the risk of this disaster," he said.

Pratikno said officers must also be prepared as well as possible to deal with the risk of this disaster, especially on Christmas and New Year's homecoming routes.

Meanwhile, Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Suharyanto said that of the 38 regencies/cities in East Java where there have been disasters, there are 11 Emergency Response statuses. Then there are 27 areas with Emergency Alert status.

"Of course I have determined that the Emergency Alert has predicted a disaster in the area, so that the central government on the instructions of the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, BNPB distributes assistance, both operational funds and equipment, there are 16 items starting from boats, basic necessities, then ready-to-eat food, pumps and so on," he said.

This means, he said, that his party hopes that 27 areas of Emergency Alert have not yet experienced a disaster, but when a disaster occurs they are ready to immediately help the community.

"Well, the 11 districts that occurred in this disaster were given assistance to ensure that people were affected by the disaster even though the scale was not large in East Java, but everything could be handled and served well," continued Suharyanto.

Acting Governor of East Java, Adhy Karyono said that his party had prepared an Unexpected Expenditure Budget (BTT) for disaster management in East Java. Because he admitted that during early November to mid-December several areas in East Java had been affected by flooding.

"We have carried out evacuations, evacuation management to logistics distribution, God willing, we can face (disasters)," he said.