Disaster prevention measures developed

KUTA, Bali (JP): The Indonesian government has established the Disaster Relief Brigade and developed a Safe Community Movement blueprint to boost the country's ability to cope with various scales of disasters, a high-ranking official said here on Tuesday.

"The Indonesian Disaster Relief Brigade, which was officially founded in May this year, will be under the auspices of the National Coordinating Board on Disaster Management currently chaired by the Vice President," Ministry of Health and Social Welfare secretary-general E Sutarto said here while attending the opening ceremony of the Intercountry Meeting on Disaster Preparedness.

The four-day Intercountry Meeting on Disaster Preparedness for the Southeast Asia Region was attended by representatives from nine countries. The meeting is focusing on the recent earthquake in Gujarat, India.

"In case of emergency, the Brigade, which has 150 disaster management experts, well-trained paramedics and doctors, could be deployed quickly to any corner of the archipelago.

"But we must be aware that the local community of a disaster- hit area actually has the ability to provide immediate help to the victims," Sutarto said.

Separately, the WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia Region, Uton Muchtar Rafei, confirmed that between 70 percent and 80 percent of immediate assistance in the aftermath of a major disaster was provided by the local community.

"Only those in the immediate surroundings of a disaster area can respond quickly and effectively.

"A community prepared for emergencies can rescue people rapidly and provide live-saving first aid. Reliance on external assistance will lead to greater loss of life and harm to the community," Uton Muchtar Rafei underlined.

This consideration was the reason for the Indonesian government's decision to launch the Safe Community Movement. (zen)