Post-Disaster Complaint Services Can Prevent Corruption, Does Your City Have It Provided?

Illustration. Complaint service at the KPK. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho)

SUMBAR - The Ombudsman representing West Sumatra (Sumbar) stated that the benefits of the availability of post-disaster information and complaints services can prevent potential misuse of the disaster budget.

The Ombudsman of West Sumatra encourages these services to be available in many places, especially in the Pasaman and West Pasaman districts.

"During the rehabilitation and reconstruction period, information and complaint services are needed that can be accessed by the public," said the Head of the Ombudsman for the West Sumatra Representative, Yefri Heriani, in Padang, Tuesday, March 8, quoted from Antara.

According to him, the provision of complaint service facilities is part of the internal control mechanism to prevent maladministration, which could be an entry point for acts of corruption.

In addition to providing complaint services, according to the Ombudsman, local governments also need to improve data collection for disaster victims and distribution of aid.

The Ombudsman Representative for West Sumatra appreciated the speed with which local governments responded to disaster events by establishing an emergency response status.

The Ombudsman suggested that local governments also prepare an action plan for handling the impact of disasters after the 14-day emergency response period ends.

In addition, according to Yefri, local governments should convey the special needs of survivor groups such as children and women to institutions and groups that provide need assistance.

"We also call for the involvement of women and men, adults and teenagers in the refugee camps for various activities such as soup kitchens and other activities," he said.

The Ombudsman also encouraged humanitarian agencies to support post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in earthquake-affected areas, especially in the construction of shelters for residents whose houses were affected by the earthquake, because the month of Ramadan will soon arrive.