Watch The Potential For Hydrometeorological Disasters, Coordinating Ministry For Human Development And Culture Prioritizes Mitigation Throughout 2023

Illustration of flood hydrometereological disasters hit Patia, Pandeglang, Banten Province, Tuesday 27 December 2022. (Between-Muhammad Bagus Khoirunas).

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK) stated that the disaster mitigation program is one of the priorities in 2023 in order to minimize the impact of disaster risk that may be caused.

"Disaster mitigation, especially wet and dry hydrometeorological disasters, is a priority for 2023," said Assistant Deputy for Disaster Mitigation and Social Conflict at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, Andre Notohamijoyo in Jakarta, Tuesday, January 31, as reported by Antara.

Andre explained that the wet hydrometeorological disaster includes floods, flash floods, landslides, and tornadoes. Meanwhile, dry hydrometeorological disasters include forest and land fires.

He added that the government continues to strengthen coordination and communication across ministries or institutions to local governments.

"Especially local governments whose regions have a high risk of these disasters, to take mitigation steps and increase preparedness based on disaster risk," he said.

One example of the mitigation program in question, he continued, is the installation of disaster early detection tools in a number of locations prone to natural disasters.

"In addition, local governments also need to alert personnel and various supporting equipment. What is no less important is intensifying the formation of disaster-resilient villages as one of the community-based disaster mitigation efforts," he said.

The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, he said, also encouraged the public to play an active role in supporting disaster mitigation programs in order to minimize the risk of disasters that might be caused.

"Strengthening socialization and education to the public regarding disaster mitigation measures also needs to be continuously optimized in order to increase public awareness and understanding," he said.

Meanwhile, Acting Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, said the government continues to make efforts to control wet hydrometeorological disasters a priority, because in Indonesia in the dry season there is still the possibility of rain that has the potential to cause flooding.

He added that currently BNPB is starting to increase preparedness for the dry season in anticipation of dry hydrometeorological disasters, such as forest and land fires.

Because, he said, in 2023 there is the potential for hot weather conditions that can have an impact on drought and forest and land fires.