He delivered the remarks while opening the Preparedness Roll Call and National Coordination Meeting of the National Alms Agency (Baznas) Disaster Response (BTB) and Baznas Healthy House (RSB) 2024 at Simpang Lima Field, Semarang, on Friday.
"Indonesia is located in the Ring of Fire and is prone to floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and others," he noted.
The impact of disasters is also worsening due to increasingly extreme climate change, he added.
In 2023, there were around 5,400 disasters that damaged 36 thousand infrastructures and affected more than eight million people, he informed.
In addition, natural disasters brought derivative impacts that increased people's vulnerability in terms of poverty, education, and health, he added.
"Therefore, disaster preparedness is important to reduce the losses incurred," he reiterated.
He lauded the active role of Baznas, volunteers, and Baznas partners in helping the government handle disasters, from the stage of disaster emergency response, post-disaster recovery, to efforts to reduce disaster risks such as the Disaster Response Village and the Community Prosperity Program.
He asked Baznas to further strengthen its role in community-based disaster mitigation, particularly in providing disaster preparedness training to the community, building emergency schools, and providing scholarships and school supplies for children affected by disasters.
This must be followed by ensuring new economic growth at relocation sites and distributing productive assistance to support the economic independence of disaster victims.
Meanwhile, Baznas chair Professor Noor Achmad said that the 2024 BTB and RSB Preparedness and National Coordination Meeting was attended by five thousand personnel, consisting of BTB volunteers from 30 provinces and 360 districts/cities, RSB medical and non-medical personnel from 22 districts and 11 provinces, and personnel from Central Java province and Semarang city.
"What we do is part of the community's demands. They keep asking us to collect alms for disasters," he added.
Moreover, the community has asked Baznas to collect alms, resulting in Baznas volunteering for disaster response, he added.
At the meeting on Friday, a simulation of earthquake handling was also carried out to demonstrate the preparedness of disaster volunteers in responding to disasters and evacuating victims.
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Translator: Zuhdiar Laeis, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
