President Prabowo Affirms Gov’t Integrated Measures to Tackle Disasters

President Prabowo Subianto affirmed the Government’s integrated efforts in addressing disasters and extreme climate conditions, including the forest and land fires occurring in several regions across the country.

“After observing the situation on the ground in several location, I am grateful, alhamdulillah, that all state elements including regional governments, ministries/institutions, agencies, the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), National Agency for Disaster Mitigation (BNPB), the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Forestry, and all relevant ministries are working effectively,” the President said in his remarks at the launch of the 100-gigawatt-peak (GWp) Solar Power Plant (PLTS) Program at the Gilimanuk Solar Power Plant site in Jembrana regency, Bali province, on Tuesday (08/25).

President Prabowo stated that the management of forest and land fires is carried out through integrated cross-sectoral efforts, supported by the deployment of substantial resources. To date, the Government has deployed a number of helicopters, aircraft, and thousands of personnel to tackle forest and land fires in several regions across the country. For that reason, the President expressed optimism that the fires can be addressed soon.

“I think the fires in several locations have started to be extinguished and mitigated. Hopefully, it can be resolved in the next one or two weeks,” he said.

On that occasion, the President extended his appreciation to all personnel involved in the disaster mitigation efforts. He added that the Government focuses not only to handle the impact of forest and land fires, and extreme weather, but also other disasters that hit the country, including flashflood in Aceh and earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

“On this occasion I would like to say that we are strong and capable although we face trials, obstacles, and challenges. We continue to prove it. We resolved the disaster in Aceh within a timeframe that many would have thought impossible. In NTT, our response was very fast and massive. Wherever needed, the state is present,” he concluded. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (RAS/AW)