Disaster prevention measures developed

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)