MoSA – Basarnas Improve Disaster Management through Command Center

JAKARTA (May 15^th, 2024) – Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini signed a Memorandum of Understanding/ MoU between the Ministry of Social Affairs and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) on Tuesday (14/5/2024) in Jakarta. The renewal of cooperation is carried out every five years. During this cooperation, both parties strive to enhance the quality of disaster management in various things, including strengthening information connection through Command Center.

“Our communication is now 24 hours because Basarnas has a Command Center. We have a Command Center too. We can get information connection 24 hours so that the disaster management can be faster,” said Minister of Social Affairs Risma after signing MoU at Basarnas Building.

The Ministry of Social Affairs Command Center was inaugurated by the Minister Tri Rismaharini on April 4^th 2023 and it is operated for 24 hours. Not only serving public complaints for social problems like Social Assistance, the Command Center is also used to monitor, data collection, and provide real-time information related to disasters.  For example, when a disaster occurs, through the Command Center, we can directly find the nearest social granary location and check buffer stock over there.

Ministry of Social Affairs can send teams to the disaster site faster by the notification from Meteorology, Climatology, Geophysics Agency (BMKG) received through the Command Center. From this notification, the Disaster Response Volunteer (Tagana) in the location immediately helped to rescue people in need, which is similar with Basarnas. “Through Command Center, Basarnas deploys its members to the regions, I also deploy our members,” said Social Affairs Minister Risma.

Head of Basarnas Marsdya TNI Kusworo showed the Command Center room on 11^th floor Basarnas Building to Social Affairs Minister. Kusworo also explained the Basarnas Command Center component and how it works. Through Command Center, Basarnas communicates with other institutions or potential organizations of Search and Rescue (SAR), including the Ministry of Social Affairs related to the implementation of SAR operations, coordination, cooperation, and sharing information with other countries in terms of SAR operations.

According to Kusworo, collaboration between Ministry of Social Affairs and Basarnas has running well. It is proved by the Ministry of Social Affairs actively supporting Basarnas SAR efforts through Tagana in the field during disasters and to improve the Ministry of Social service through the Command Center.