"Research studies in 2006, 2012 and 2013 showed that the society and administration disaster preparedness were still low. Despite an improvement in the awareness and understanding of disaster, the disaster preparedness has not become a social attitude, practice or culture," Head of Information and Data Center of BNPB Sutopo Purwo Nugroho emphasized in his statement here on Monday.
In the regional administration, disaster mitigation has not been prioritized in its five year development program.
The budget allocation for disaster mitigation is approximately only 0.5 percent from the regional budget (APBD), Nugroho noted.
"Therefore, disaster mitigation has not become the spirit of sectional development," Nugroho added.
Disaster mitigation should be prioritized. "It must be viewed as an investment in the development," Nugroho elaborated.
Disaster is inevitable but the risk could be reduced, he stated.
Nugroho pointed out that in United States of America, every one US dollar spent for disaster mitigation program could reduce seven US dollar worth of loss due to disaster, while every dollar spent in Europe could save 10-40 US dollar worth of loss.
"Indonesia might have greater advantages compared to other nations as we have high social capacity," Nugroho added.
Meanwhile, BNPB data showed that there were at least 197 people who died, and 64 injured due to disasters during 2013 until February 2, 2014.
At least 1.6 million people had to take refuge due to disasters.
The authority estimated that several major disasters had caused trillions of rupiah worth of loss such as flash flood in North Sulawesi (Rp1.87 T), Mount Sinabung eruption of North Sumatra (Rp1 T), flood in Java northern coast route Pantura (Rp6 T) and Jakartas flood (Rp5 T).
EDITED BY INE
(A059/KR-BSR/F001)
Reporter: Aditya E.S. Wicaksono
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
