“Moving beyond the search for victims, we need to concentrate more on rescue—on saving lives,” he said during a discussion on strengthening the role of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) in Jakarta on Thursday.
Pratikno argued that Indonesia urgently requires a more integrated SAR command to enable the rapid and unhindered mobilization of assets and resources from ministries and state agencies during emergencies, while eliminating bureaucratic obstacles.
The minister further suggested that the chief of Basarnas be granted stronger authority to effectively coordinate joint rescue-centered operations.
“Time is of the essence in SAR operations, given that victims’ chances of survival are significantly higher within the 72-hour golden window. Beyond individual bravery, equally critical are a solid command system, adequate infrastructure, and reliable technology and human resources,” he emphasized.
He also underscored the need to provide greater resource support for Basarnas, noting the agency’s responsibility to maintain operational readiness across five million square kilometers of territory.
In contrast, he said, Basarnas currently has only 5,462 personnel stationed across 45 SAR offices, stressing that the agency requires substantially more manpower to serve Indonesia’s approximately 280 million citizens spread across thousands of nationwide islands.
“This challenge is compounded by heightened risk amid climate change and increasingly frequent disasters,” Pratikno added, observing that the public has become more critical of the effectiveness and speed of SAR operations, particularly on social media.
With that in mind, the minister reiterated the importance of establishing a centralized command structure that is authorized and capable of mobilizing all state institutions, including the police and military, to contribute their resources to SAR operations.
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Translator: M. Riezko, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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