"We are keen to intensify the collaboration to enable our students and children to be more disciplined as their peers in Japan in implementing the disaster-risk reduction practices," Siddiq said.
The disaster management cooperation for the Banda Aceh and Kamaishi city governments is initiated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), he said in a statement that ANTARA quoted here Sunday.
In the near future, JICA would organize several disaster management-related programs, including a training for trainers, workshop, and disaster mitigation training in Japan, he said.
In addition to disaster resilience programs, Siddiq also urges JICA to help the Banda Aceh administration develop tourism sector in the city.
To this end, Senior Deputy Director of JICA's Partnership Program Division Fujihara Reiko visited Banda Aceh this week.
Her visit was aimed at strengthening the urban disaster resilience related to the Banda Aceh and Kamaishi sister city relationship.
The programs would be centered at the Aceh Tsunami Museum and two public junior high schools -- SMPN 11 and SMPN 17 -- by focusing on improving locals' disaster mitigation capabilities, she said.
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In conducting the programs, JICA would involve the Syiah Kuala University, Aceh Disaster Mitigation Agency, and Banda Aceh Education Office, she said, adding that there would be a disaster mitigation training in Japan in 2024.
Earthquakes regularly rock various parts of Indonesia since the country lies on the Circum-Pacific Belt, also known as the Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet and cause frequent volcanic and seismic activities.
The city of Banda Aceh had experienced the deadliest ever earthquake, followed by tsunami, on December 26, 2004.
The catastrophe that also affected certain coastal areas in countries, such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India, reportedly killed some 230 thousand people.
In addition to Banda Aceh's deadliest earthquake and tsunami, the Indonesian island of Sulawesi has repeatedly borne witness to deadly earthquakes.
On September 28, 2018, for instance, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit several parts of Central Sulawesi Province.
The strong earthquake that was followed by a tsunami and soil liquefaction in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi Province, claimed 2,102 lives, injured 4,612, and rendered 680 others missing.
A total of 68,451 homes incurred serious damage, while 78,994 people were displaced.
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Translator: R.Fajri, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
