Jokowi Sentil Local Government Regulations Become Undistributed Disaster Assistance Constraints Evenly To Victims

President Jokowi attended the National Disaster Management Coordination Meeting at JIExpo Kemayoran Jakarta, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (ANTARA-Mentari DG)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) alluded to the complexity of local government regulations (Pemda) when a disaster occurs. According to him, this resulted in disaster assistance only passing through but it was not shared with the victims.

"Usually I see that in the field (assistance) everything is piled up, the posts are piled up, the urban villages are piled up. Then the trucks carry aid, people affected by the disaster see, only see, but they are never divided," Jokowi said while giving a speech at the National Disaster Management Coordination Meeting at JI-Expo Kemayoran Jakarta, Thursday, March 2, was confiscated by Antara.

The President revealed that many donations from the community were collected first at the sub-district office, kelurahan or post of the disaster, but the assistance was not directly distributed due to procedures that had to be passed.

According to Jokowi, people should not have difficulty receiving assistance, especially since they have lost family members and livelihoods after the disaster.

"Even though at that time it couldn't be used, the important thing was that it could be held, as entertainment when there was a disaster. Wow, I had rice, there was Supermi, only through help in front of my eyes, through three times but never shared," he said.

Therefore, the President emphasized to local governments, including the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) to simplify regulations or procedures for distributing humanitarian aid.

But on the other hand, the management of the distribution of aid must still be considered in the field so that it is right on target.

"How come we make the rules that are getting more and more rules, the more happy. Simplify it, for the most'simple' so that money or aid can immediately enter the community, but it is controlled properly. In a disaster position, speed is needed," said the President.