Basarnas Needs Rp95.23 Billion for INSARAG Heavy Classification

Basarnas has proposed an additional priority budget of Rp95.23 billion needed to enhance the capacity of Indonesia’s Urban SAR team (INASAR) to achieve ‘Heavy Class’ standardisation from the current medium classification granted by the international SAR body. Secretary General of Basarnas Abdul Haris stated during a working meeting with Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta that fulfilling this capacity is urgent, as Indonesia is scheduled to undergo an international assessment as a member of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) in 2028. ‘This functional capacity increase towards Heavy Class is absolutely necessary so that Indonesia’s active role in humanitarian SAR operations at the international level, as we have demonstrated in Turkey and Myanmar, can continue to be strengthened,’ he said. Haris explained that the Urban SAR team proposal falls under the urgent safety needs classification cluster, alongside a request for an additional employee expenditure budget of Rp135.37 billion to finance salary and allowance components for 3,923 new civil servants. In the safety cluster, Basarnas has proposed a total additional budget ceiling of Rp409.33 billion, allocated simultaneously for main equipment readiness, human resource capacity building, personnel competence, and training. Of this total safety budget, the maintenance of communication and information technology infrastructure systems absorbs the largest portion at Rp213.57 billion, followed by fulfilling the operational expertise capacity of rescue personnel at Rp83.29 billion. Furthermore, to maintain professionalism and rapid decision-making by personnel during emergency conditions in the field, Basarnas has allocated a special budget for integrated periodic functional training programmes amounting to Rp17.22 billion. ‘Lastly, we are also prioritising additional funds for the initial SAR operation response sector, which currently stands at zero rupiah, whereas as an operational agency, the institution requires swift and sufficient budget movement when a disaster occurs,’ he said.