The work culture is very important because disasters come unexpectedlyJakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) urged the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) to have an alert and anticipatory work culture.
"As one of the main pillars of disaster mitigation, the BNPB must always improve itself. First, the work culture of BNPB must be alert, anticipatory, responsive, and adaptive," the president remarked while opening the 2022 National Coordination Meeting for Disaster Mitigation at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Wednesday.
The head of state gave due importance to the work culture on account of the sporadic and unexpected nature of natural disasters.
"The work culture is very important because disasters come unexpectedly. They come suddenly and even disasters that were unimaginable before, one of which is the COVID-19 pandemic," he stated.
Jokowi stressed that all disaster-related uncertainties should be handled in order to minimize risks to the community, nation, and state.
"As a country that is surrounded by a ring of fire, with a very large area, disasters are part of our daily life. Indonesia is one of the 35 countries most prone to disaster risks in the world. Almost every day, there are disasters in several areas of our country, Indonesia," the president noted.
As a result, the risk of human and material losses due to disasters is also very high.
"Hence, disaster mitigation must be conducted in an integrated, systematic manner, and the Master Plan for Disaster Mitigation for 2020-2044 must be implemented with full commitment and responsibility," he affirmed.
President Jokowi also urged that all stages in the Master Plan for Disaster Mitigation for 2020-2044 be implemented in a disciplined and consistent manner.
"Indonesia must become a nation that is resilient to disasters," he stated.
The BPNB had earlier reported that 3,058 natural disasters had struck Indonesia from January 1 to December 28, 2021.
Some 1,288 incidents of floods occurred or constituted 42.1 percent of all disasters, followed by 791 incidents of extreme weather-related disasters and 623 incidents of landslides.
In addition, 265 incidents of forest and land fires occurred, 44 incidents of tidal waves and abrasion, 31 incidents of earthquakes, 15 incidents of droughts, and one incident of volcanic eruptions.
These thousands of disasters caused material losses by destroying 141,795 houses, 3,699 public facilities, 509 offices, and 438 bridges.
West Java is the province that bore the brunt of maximum number of natural disasters, reaching 754 incidents, while West Papua Province recorded the lowest number of natural disasters, at three incidents.
Related news: BNPB distributes free masks at 47 locations in Jakarta
Related news: Infrastructure development should not increase disaster risk: Jokowi
Related news: Risk of disasters has declined in Central Sulawesi: BMKG
Translator: Desca L, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
