Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Head of the Aceh Regional Command Post for the\nPost-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) Task Force,\nSafrizal Zakaria Ali, has commended the swift response of the Aceh\nTengah district government in tackling sanitation issues at temporary\nshelters (huntara) for disaster-affected residents in Ketol District,\nthereby preventing health problems.<\/p>\n
The appreciation was conveyed after the Regional Disaster Management\nAgency (BPBD) and the Aceh Tengah Environment and Forestry Service\n(DLHK) moved quickly to pump out faecal waste at two shelter locations\non Monday (22\/6).<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a disaster situation, local government must be present actively\nand responsively. We greatly appreciate the Aceh Tengah administration,\nparticularly the BPBD and DLHK, who immediately went to the field upon\nreceiving reports regarding sanitation problems at the huntara,\u201d said\nSafrizal.<\/p>\n
The emergency response, carried out less than 24 hours after the\nreport was received, targeted the Huntara Kampung Burlah in Pondok Balik\nand Huntara Kampung Bintang Pepara on Jalan Tengah, Ketol District.<\/p>\n
The local government\u2019s quick action was a follow-up to a written\nrecommendation submitted by the PRR Aceh Command Post\u2019s Regional Expert,\nZam Zam Mubarak, on Sunday (21\/6).<\/p>\n
In his field report, Zam Zam revealed that the communal septic tank\nfor the public toilets at the Kampung Bintang Pepara temporary shelter\nwas full and overflowing. This condition had the potential to trigger an\nExtraordinary Event (KLB) of infectious diseases if not addressed\nimmediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe condition was already overflowing and risked triggering the\nspread of skin diseases, diarrhoea, and other health problems,\nespecially for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. On\nthe other hand, residents had no access to septic tank suction fleets\nnor the independent financial capacity to address it,\u201d said Zam Zam.<\/p>\n
Beyond the now-resolved sanitation issue, the Aceh PRR Task Force\nalso noted several other problems that still require attention and\nfurther intervention from various parties. Meanwhile, residents still\nliving in the temporary shelters are also beginning to face the threat\nof food insecurity. Several staple food items such as rice, cooking oil,\nsugar, and eggs have been reported to be running low, particularly for\nvulnerable groups like the elderly, pregnant women, and children.<\/p>\n
Responding to these conditions, Safrizal requested that all PRR Task\nForce experts serving in various regions continue to build active\ncommunication and synergy with local governments and relevant agencies.\nAccording to him, the presence of experts in the field plays a strategic\nrole as a bridge between the community and the government in identifying\nvarious problems that arise post-disaster.<\/p>\n
\u201cExperts must be the eyes and ears of the government in the field.\nBuild strong coordination with all stakeholders so that problems can be\ndetected earlier and handled together. In that way, the recovery process\nfor the community\u2019s physical, social, and economic life can proceed more\neffectively,\u201d said Safrizal.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/quick-response-from-aceh-bpbd-dlhk-prevents-health-issues-in-temporary-shelters-1782194092", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }