Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chief of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto gave a lecture to students of Army Command and Staff College (Seskoad) at the Jenderal Gatot Soebroto Building in Bandung, West Java.

Suharyanto noted in his statement received here on Monday that after the Seskoad students complete their education, they will face challenges related to both military and disaster threats in their respective assigned areas.

"Disasters are a challenge and a real threat that will be faced by students after finishing the Seskoad education and being assigned to their units. Both natural disasters and non-natural disasters can happen," he remarked.

Indonesia has abundant wealth and natural resources, but it has several disaster-prone areas, he stated.

He explained that natural disasters consisted of geological and volcanological, dry hydrometeorological, and wet hydrometeorological events.

During the lecture, Suharyanto also shed light on the history of the establishment, duties, and functions of BNPB starting from pre-disaster to during disaster and post-disaster handling based on Law No. 24 of 2007.

"When there are floods, landslides, and other disasters in the area, the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) can command if it is a light disaster, and the Indonesian Military/Police personnel (TNI/Polri) can follow BPBD," he stated.

Meanwhile, the BNPB will take command and deploy its personnel if the disasters are large-scale, he added.

He explained that in handling several disaster events in Indonesia, the command in the field could not be separated from TNI's role.

"We asked assistance from the commander of the Army Strategic Reserve during the tsunami in Palu, asked for assistance of a TNI high-ranking official in the West Nusa Tenggara earthquake, and (sought help from) the sub-district military commander during the Cianjur earthquake for controlling (the impacts)," he remarked.

At the end of the lecture, he expressed hope that Seskoad students would use the knowledge of disaster handling to protect people later.

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Translator: Devi R, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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