Minister of Social Affairs: When Disaster Occurs, KSB Residents are Ready

PANGANDARAN (22 November 2019) - The Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara, who is often called Ari, has declared a Disaster Preparedness Village (KSB) in Pangandaran Regency. The Minister of Social Affairs wants the people in the areas that have been formed by Disaster Preparedness Area to be fully prepared when facing a disaster.

"When a disaster strikes, which of course we don't want, all of us, especially the residents in KSB are already. That's what's important," said Ari in the field of Kalipucang District, Pangandaran, Friday (22/11).

Pangandaran Regency is the host for the implementation of simulations and the declaration of KSB on the southern coast of Java Island. The declaration was marked by the simultaneous beating of kentongan by the Minister of Social Affairs followed by the Director General of Social Protection and Security, the Regent of Pangandaran, and related stakeholders who attended the event.

The formation of the KSB is intended to accelerate the building of understanding, awareness and preparedness of the community as the first party to deal directly with disasters and live along the megathrust area.

Previously, KSB in two other districts in Central Java Province, namely Cilacap and Kebumen, had already been inaugurated. Following Pangandaran Regency which was the peak of its declaration by the Minister of Social Affairs today.

Starting his remarks, in front of all the participants, Ari built an interaction by greeting all the personnel who marched from the west to the east.

"I came here not only to sit around, hear reports, or take a walk, but most importantly, the KSB that we are planning today, which includes Pangandaran, Cilacap and Kebumen, is not only united today," said Ari. , the Social Affairs Minister's nickname.

Not to mention, continued Ari, this was President Joko Widodo's direct instruction to anticipate disaster-prone areas, especially entering the rainy season.

"So, we have to anticipate. President Jokowi always warns to prepare disaster-prone areas to improve their preparedness," said Ari.

Present at the activity, the Director General of Social Protection and Security at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Harry Hikmat, Pangandaran Regent, Jeje Wiradinata, representatives of the Regent of Cilacap and Kebumen, Aster Kasdam III / Siliwangi, Colonel Arh. G. Hasto Respatyo, Head of Basarnas West Java, Dede Ridwansyah, Head of West Java Province Social Service, Dodo Suhendar and related stakeholders, as well as partners from various domestic and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Meanwhile, the Director General of Social Protection and Security, Harry Hikmat, in his report said that this KSB activity was a follow-up to the direction of the President of the Republic of Indonesia at the National Coordination Meeting of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) last July so that all parties were sensitive and anticipated of disasters.

"Considering that Indonesia is one of the countries most prone to disasters because of its position on the Ring of Fire, it is necessary to carry out a massive disaster education to the people concerned," said the Director General.

This educational activity is not only aimed at the adult community, but also involves school children which are summarized in the activities of Tagana Goes to School (TMS) activities.

TMS was held on November 15 to 21 yesterday in 40 schools in three districts (Pangandaran, Cilacap and Kebumen), involving 4,600 people consisting of 680 teachers and 3,920 students.

"This activity received a tremendous welcome from students, teachers, and even principals at disaster-prone points. They were enthusiastically involved in training themselves to prepare everything in the event of a disaster in their respective schools," said the Director General.

Overall, 741 Disaster Alert Villages have been formed in Indonesia involving 185,250 people, including 17 locations in Disaster Preparedness Areas involving 4,250 people in Pandeglang districts, South Lampung districts, Cilacap districts, Kebumen districts and Pangandaran districts.

In its implementation, the Ministry of Social Affairs collaborates with the Ministry of Education and Culture, BNPB, BPBD, Basarnas, BMKG, Ministry of Villages, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, TNI, Polri, Regional Government, to the concerned communities who are at risk of being affected by disasters.

Delivery of Logistic Assistance

In this declaration activity also carried out the delivery of logistical assistance with a total of Rp. 2,308,993,484, - (two billion three hundred eight million nine hundred ninety-three thousand four hundred and eighty-four rupiah).

The assistance consists of disaster management bufferstock assistance to West Java Province worth Rp. 1,081,753,272, - (one billion eighty-one million seven hundred fifty-three thousand two hundred seventy-two rupiah) and Central Java Province worth Rp. 1,227,240,212, - (one billion two hundred twenty-seven million two hundred forty thousand two hundred and twelve rupiah).

As for assistance in the form of food, family multipurpose tents along with roll tents, mattresses, velbeds, to family kits and kids ware, some of these items will be given to the social barns of the Disaster Preparedness Village in each of the areas that have been established.