PUPR Aims to Boost Resilience to Hydro-Meteorological Disasters

Bandung flood
Flood is one of hydro-meteorological disasters
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90% of the total 8,584 natural disasters that occurred in Indonesia between 2021 and 2022 were hydro-meteorological disasters. Therefore, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) in Indonesia aims to make the country highly resilient to that kind of disasters.

According to Firdaus Ali, the Special Staff of the Minister of PUPR in the field of Water Resources, there has been a significant increase in water-related disasters such as landslides and floods in areas like Natuna, Pantura, and Bogor due to the country’s lack of high resilience to hydro-meteorological disasters.

Based on data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), 90% of the total 8,584 natural disasters that occurred in Indonesia between 2021 and 2022 were hydro-meteorological disasters, which not only cause loss of life but also massive economic losses.

Speaking at the Sustainable Infrastructure Forum themed “Joint Commitment for Carbon Emission Reduction and Sustainable Infrastructure Financing Strategy” held in the Auditorium of the Ministry of PUPR on Wednesday (March 15), Firdaus Ali emphasized the importance of collaboration between all stakeholders, including the government and society, to work together and exert efforts to mitigate and adapt to hydro-meteorological disasters through appropriate policies, so that sustainable development can be achieved.

“Indonesia is vulnerable to hydro-meteorological disasters, which is why the government must collaborate to mitigate and adapt through sustainable development policies and strategies,” he said.

The ministry plans to develop infrastructure and disaster risk reduction efforts to make Indonesia highly resilient to hydro-meteorological disasters, including improving water resource management and expanding water supply systems.

Additionally, the government will work with various stakeholders, including the private sector, to increase investment in disaster risk reduction, which is crucial for the country’s development in the long term.

Meanwhile, as previously reported, the frequency of disasters in the world, especially in Indonesia, has increased drastically in recent years. President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that the disaster frequency in Indonesia has also increased drastically to 81% in the last 12 years.

He conveyed this while attending the Working Meeting of the National Search and Rescue Agency at the BNPP head office, Jakarta, Thursday (16/2/2023).

He said that in 2010, there were 1,945 disasters occurred. Then, that number in 2022 yesterday increased to 3,542. This means that since 2010, the disaster frequency in Indonesia has increased by 81%.

The head of state then appreciated BNPP in handling major accidents that have become a public concern such as the 2014 AirAsia to 2018 Lion Air accidents.

“I followed all of them and some I saw directly on the speed field, I have to convey the response from Basarnas as it is, very fast,” Jokowi said.