"Hydro-meteorological risk ought to not escalate to a fatal disaster. To cut this vicious circle, we must have a better and thorough understanding of hydro-meteorological disaster and its risks," he said at a national coordination meeting on La Nina risk mitigation, held virtually from Jakarta on Friday.
Indonesia should not wait till risk turns into disaster and instead, the authorities must reduce disaster risk by disseminating knowledge and encouraging preparedness among the public, the coordinating minister said.
The information disseminated to the public must cover disaster risk reduction, residents' vulnerability, and enhancement of public response in disaster mitigation, he added.
While improving residents' preparedness, information dissemination would also help reduce potential material and life losses, thereby positively impacting public welfare and resilience against potential hydro-meteorological disaster risk, Effendy said.
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"Enhancing public knowledge on hydro-meteorological disasters may have a positive impact on public welfare, resilience, security, and also be relevant to our national human resources development," the coordinating minister remarked.
Though Indonesia's current rainfall level is considered of average intensity, hydro-meteorological disaster risks such as floods, tornadoes, and landslides remain, Effendy said.
Climate change has played a role in increasing hydro-meteorological disaster intensity in recent times, he added.
By understanding their environment, residents could play a more active role in mitigating hydro-meteorological disaster risks, he said.
"By understanding the weather conditions and environment in our locality, as well as comprehending natural behavior, hydro-meteorological disaster risks can be mitigated earlier," Effendy remarked.
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Translator: Hreeloita DS, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
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