President Jokowi Opens Basarnas Working Meeting
President Jokowi opens the Working Meeting of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and Coordination Meeting of Search and Rescue Potentials Forum (FKP3) of 2023, at Basarnas Head Office, Jakarta, on Thusday (02/16), accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs (PMK) Muhadjir Effendy, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, and Chief of Basarnas Air Marshall Henri Alfiandi. (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Agung)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo revealed that the potential of global disaster has increased fivefold in the last fifty years.
“According to the data, the potential of global disaster tends to increase fivefold during the last fifty years, fivefold. Be careful,” President Jokowi stated in the opening of the Working Meeting of National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and Coordination Meeting of Search and Rescue Potentials Forum (FKP3) of 2023 at Basarnas Head Office, Jakarta, on Thursday (02/16) morning.
The frequency of disasters in Indonesia, he added, has also increased drastically up to 81 percent in the last twelve years.
“Be careful, the frequency of disasters in Indonesia has also increased drastically up to 81 percent from 1,945 in 2010 to 3,542 in 2022. It has increased, once again, to 81 percent,” the President said.
He further mentioned that Indonesia has experienced major disasters, among others, Air Asia plane crash in Belitung waters in 2014, Sriwijaya SJ-182 plane crash in Thousand Islands in 2021, and Lion Air JT-610 plane crash in Karawang waters in 2018, and also Sinar Bangun motorboat crash in Lake Toba in 2018.
The Head of State expressed his appreciation to Basarnas for their fast response in handling major disasters in Indonesia.
“We had incidents, such as Air Asia plane crash in Belitung waters in 2014, Sriwijaya SJ-182 plane crash in Thousand Islands in 2021, and Lion Air JT-610 plane crash in Karawang waters in 2018, and also Sinar Bangun motorboat crash in Lake Toba in 2018. I had been monitoring all of them and inspected some of them, and I must say that Basarnas’ response is really fast,” the President asserted.
According to the President, Basarnas plays an important role because the victims and their families rely on the (search and rescue) SAR team.
“The fast evacuation to save lives also depends on the SAR team,” he added.
Therefore, President Jokowi emphasized the high importance of technology use to expedite the search and rescue operations. Some technologies needed, among others, are drone rescue, snake robot, robot diver, and jet suit to conduct operation at the heights.
“Basarnas must have them immediately, I do not know whether or not we have the budget. If not yet, just propose a budget plan. Coordinating Minister of PMK, please take note of it. Cabinet Secretary, please support Basarnas to have those equipment that I have mentioned,” he stressed.
However, in addition to technology use, the President reminded that the most important factor in search and rescue process is getting the local community involved, especially those who live in disaster-prone areas.
He also encouraged Basarnas to involve the community through education on first response measures taken during the disaster.
“Educating the community becomes a very important factor, so the people get education and skills on first response measures. This is really important. Intervention is needed to get the community educated, so they understand what to do in the initial events,” he remarked.
During the meeting, President Jokowi also expressed his wishes on the 51st anniversary of Basarnas to all big family of the institution.
“Thank you for the dedication given in every search and rescue operations,” he remarked. (AW/HD/MUR)
