PMI deploys 200 water tankers in national response to clean water crisis
Water is a vital basic necessity; therefore, when shortages occur within the community, PMI personnel are instructed to be immediately present in the field to distribute supplies.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Red Cross (PMability) is preparing 200 water tanker units to provide national assistance in meeting the clean water crisis for communities affected by extreme drought across the country.
Speaking during the Roll Call for Operations on the Impacts of Extreme Drought Due to El Niño 2026 in Jakarta on Tuesday, PMI General Chairman Jusuf Kalla stated that the deployment of hundreds of units is part of a strategic disaster preparedness step based on forecasts.
“We are moving 200 water tankers to assist communities experiencing clean water shortages due to drought,” he said.
Jusuf Kalla emphasised that water is a vital basic need, so when scarcity occurs in the community, PMI personnel are instructed to be immediately present in the field to distribute supplies.
As an initial priority, these hundreds of water tankers will be deployed directly to eight provinces predicted to experience the most severe drought impacts due to the global El Niño climate phenomenon.
The eight priority regions for this aid intervention include the provinces of Banten, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, and East Nusa Tenggara.
This water crisis mitigation step is considered crucial, given that data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicts the peak of the El Niño climate phenomenon this year will last from July to September, triggering a reduction in clean water availability.
To ensure that the distribution of logistics is precisely targeted, the mechanism for distributing clean water aid in the field will be synchronised through close coordination with local governments and local Regional Disaster Management Agencies (BPBD).
PMI noted that the number of operational units this time has increased compared to the drought management in 2023, during which PMI deployed 126 water tankers to supply 100 million litres of clean water.
Jusuf Kalla added that the management from the central to the regional levels will continue to monitor the dynamics of the dry season and are ready to adjust the intensity of logistics distribution operations according to the escalation of community needs.
“PMI will continue to monitor the developments of the dry season and adjust clean water distribution operations according to the needs of the community in the affected areas,” he said.