"This decision has been made based on a proposal from acting district head of Landak, who proposed food assistance in the form of rice," head of the Food Security Office of West Kalimantan, Herti Herawati, said here on Friday.
She informed that floods have inundated several sub-districts of Landak, including Ngabang, Kuala Behe, Meranti, Air Besar, Menyike, Sengah Temila, and Sebangki. The total number of flood victims has been recorded at 27,354, or 7,494 families.
"Global climate change has caused an extreme change in weather, which often triggers floods due to an increase in rainfall during the rainy season," she said.
Meanwhile, the acting governor of West Kalimantan, Harisson, said that food reserves have an important role in maintaining food supply stability, especially now, when the harvest season has not yet arrived in regions, which are experiencing a food deficit.
"The distribution of post-disaster assistance is one of the anticipatory measures to tackle the condition of food insecurity due to disasters," he added.
He highlighted that it is essential to carry out equitable food distribution at all levels — from the city/district to the village — to maintain food supply stability and boost food security in West Kalimantan.
"To this end, regional governments, both district and provincial, are expected to continue to provide sufficient budget to meet the needs for regional food reserves in accordance with the number of residents in the region," he said.
Harisson noted that the rice assistance is a concrete form of support from the provincial government of West Kalimantan to help people face the challenge of disasters, which have become more frequent due to climate change.
Related news: Floods hit six regions in Central Kalimantan: BNPB
Related news: East Kalimantan still fighting wildfires: official
Translator: Rendra Oxtora, Raka Adji
Editor: Arie Novarina
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