Jusuf Kalla Urges PMI Volunteers to Assist with Drought Disasters

The Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), Jusuf Kalla (JK), has warned of the impacts of drought disasters, which are predicted to persist until the end of this year. He urged PMI volunteers to remain on standby to assist affected communities.

“Drought is occurring everywhere due to El Niño, and this could continue until the end of the year,” said JK while attending the inauguration of the Central Java PMI management at the Gradhika Bhakti Pravel Building, Semarang, on Friday (31/07/2026).

He added that drought can lead to two primary consequences: a reduction in agricultural commodity supplies and a shortage of clean water. According to JK, the PMI is actively conducting operations to manage and mitigate drought impacts.

“There are 200 PMI water tankers that must be deployed across Indonesia, particularly to Java, Bali, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, and Sumatra. These are the areas currently facing this crisis,” stated JK.

JK noted that as a nation situated within the Ring of Fire, Indonesia remains highly susceptible to various disasters, including earthquakes and tsunamis. In this context, he believes the PMI and its volunteers must always be prepared to assist the public.

“Preparedness must function effectively. How does the PMI work well? It starts with the volunteers working in the field. Therefore, they must undergo proper training. There are over one million trained PMI volunteers,” said JK.

He further added that PMI volunteers consistently carry out their duties without remuneration. “Because volunteers simply wish to help the community, without pay or any other compensation,” he concluded.