Govt to Launch Disaster Education Program
President Jokowi inspects a tsunami-hit Way Muli Village, Rajabasa District, South Lampung on Wednesday (2/1). Photo by: Presidential Secretariat.
The Indonesian Government is about to launch disaster education program for students and community members in order to increase public awareness on disaster mitigation.
“Disaster education will start in January at schools and at communities,” President Jokowi said on Wednesday (2/1) during inspecting a tsunami-hit Way Muli Village, Rajabasa District, South Lampung.
The President added that main target of the disaster education are schools and communities in the disaster-prone areas.
In the meantime, President Jokowi visited the residents of Way Muli Village and inspected public facilities damaged by the tsunami. Accompanying the President during the visit were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto, Minister of Health Nila Moeloek, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Social Affairs Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) General Tito Karnavian, and Governor of Lampung Muhammad Ridho Ficardo.
For the record, the last tsunami has caused 118 people died and 490 houses damaged in South Lampung. The number of fatalities was allegedly because the residents’ houses were mostly located right on the beach.
President Jokowi has instructed state apparatus to carry out rapid emergency response for the tsunami victims and to rebuild the houses damaged by the disaster.
“The victims requested that the reconstruction of their houses will start immediately. We will start reconstruction and development program soon. There are no temporary shelters, new houses will be built immediately,” President Jokowi said.
The President went on to say that the Government would at the same time relocate the residential areas. A? two-hectare parcel of land, approximately 400 meters from its original location, has been prepared as a new residential area that is relatively safer from similar disasters.
President Jokowi further said that spatial planning, particularly for areas around the coastline, is urgent to minimize the casualties during the disaster. He added that long term goals should be taken into account in the spatial planning. (BPMI Setpres/ES)
Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Edited by: Mia Medyana
