Increasing Preparedness in the Southern Coast of Java, the Ministry of Social Affairs Will Form a Disaster Prepared Area

CILACAP (November 15, 2019) - Areas on the southern coast of Java Island received special attention from disaster stakeholders because they were considered to have the potential for disasters.

In order to improve community preparedness on the southern coast of Java Island, the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs will soon establish a Disaster Preparedness Area.

This program is a form of development of the Disaster Preparedness Village which has been established for a long time.

"This is the first program. Previously, implementation was in the form of a disaster preparedness village with a smaller scope", said the Director of Social Protection for Natural Disaster Victims, Rachmat Koesnadi, who chaired the coordination meeting (Rakor) on Friday (15/11) night in Cilacap.

For the first time, the declaration will be carried out in three districts, namely Cilacap, Kebumen and Pangandaran.

According to Rachmat, the three regencies were chosen because they were areas that were highly vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis because they were located along the southern coast of Java Island.

"Because there are many areas that have the potential and threat of massive and extensive disasters, it is necessary to develop a wider community preparedness and mitigation," said Rachmat.

Before the declaration, which is planned to be carried out simultaneously on November 22, the Ministry of Social Affairs will first hold a coordination meeting with the local government and also related stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Regent of Cilacap, Syamsul Aulia Rachman, who was present to represent the Regent, also expressed his hopes with the formation of this program.

"With the establishment of a disaster preparedness area, at least it will minimize casualties and impacts so that people and local governments are ready in the event of a disaster," hoped Syamsul.

The establishment of this Disaster Alert Area has also received high appreciation from the local government. Apart from the Deputy Regent of Cilacap, Plt. The Head of the Social Service for Central Java Province, Yusadar Armunanto, who was present at the coordination meeting shared support for this program.

Also attending the coordination meeting of a number of related agencies such as the Pangandaran Social Service, Kebumen and Cilacap, then the Health Office and Cilacap BPBD, to representatives from PMI Central Java Province.

The Tagana personnel from the three regencies concerned will participate in enlivening the activity which will last for nine days, with details of coordination meetings for three days, starting from November 15 to 17, then followed by technical guidance or direct training to the community until November 21, and the climax. on November 22.