Ministry of Social Affairs Develops Disaster Preparedness Areas in Potential Megathrust Areas

CILACAP (November 16, 2019) - The Ministry of Social Affairs is developing a Disaster Preparedness Area (KSB) in a potential megathrust area.

The development of KSB is carried out as an effort to increase community preparedness and mitigation in anticipating disaster events and reducing disaster risks.

In the early stages, KSB was developed in seven sub-districts spread across Cilacap and Kebumen Regencies, Central Java and Pangandaran Regency, West Java.

The seven sub-districts are Kalipucang District, Pangandaran District and Sidamulih District (Pangandaran Regency); Kesugihan District and Adipala District (Cilacap Regency); Ayah Subdistrict and Buayan District (Kebumen Regency).

Director General of Social Protection and Security of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Harry Hikmat said that KSB focuses on providing education to the public.

Harry explained that the potential for megathrust must be anticipated by means of education and conveying correct information to the public in order to avoid false news (hoax).

"In this education, the Ministry of Social Affairs develops Community-based Disaster Management which is implemented in the Tagana Goes to School (TMS) and Disaster Preparedness Village (KSB) programs," said Harry at the Coordination Meeting (Rakor) for Disaster Preparedness Areas in Regions. South Coast of Java Island which took place in Cilacap, Saturday (16/11) afternoon.

The development of the KSB also facilitates the preparation of Minimum Service Standards (SPM) in the field of disaster management which regulates the division of tasks and authorities between the central and regional governments in disaster management.

Megathrust is an earthquake due to the collision between the Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates that can trigger a tsunami.

"In the seven sub-districts, there are villages (based on the results of BMKG mapping) that are on the megathrust route so that they have a high risk of disaster. Some of the villages have a low risk of disaster, but are expected to become a buffer area when a disaster occurs," said Harry at in front of a number of stakeholders present at the coordination meeting from Cilacap, Kebumen and Pangandaran Regencies.

Widespread Coverage of KSB

The KSB currently being developed by the Ministry of Social Affairs, according to Harry, has a wider reach.

"Now, KSB is not only limited from village to village, but includes disaster-prone areas which border between regencies and / or between provinces," said Harry.

The plan is that the Disaster Alert Area in this megathrust potential area will be declared by the Minister of Social Affairs in Pangandaran on 22 November.

"We hope this activity will not only be ceremonial, but as a momentum to strengthen the commitment of all parties in disaster risk prevention," said Harry.

Prior to the declaration of the KSB, the Ministry of Social Affairs has conducted a coordination meeting with the local government and related stakeholders.

This coordination meeting, said Harry, is a momentum to harmonize communication and steps of all Ministry of Social work partners at the provincial, city / district, and sub-district to village levels.

"The Ministry of Social Affairs, only one agency at the central level handles natural disasters, while natural disaster management must be carried out in an integrated manner, both at the central and regional levels, at all stages of disaster management starting from pre, during and post-disaster," he concluded.