Regions to get system to avert disasters

Regions to get system to avert disasters

SERPONG, West Java (JP): Provincial governments will be given
computer systems to help anticipate and manage natural disasters,
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas said
Thursday.

Azwar said told a seminar that all 27 provinces would have the
computer database systems by the end of 1999.

Each province is to receive a Rp 10 million (US$4,084)
computer system, paid for by the regional component of the state
budget.

The government has set aside about Rp 72 billion (US$29.4
million) in the 1997/1998 state budget for natural disaster
relief aid.

Information will be sent to the provinces' computer systems
through Wasantaranet, a homepage offering the latest information
on natural disaster management.

"This will enable us to identify and solve problems that may
arise in different parts of our country, such as volcanic
activity, landslides, floods in Java, tectonic shifts from
volcanic activity in Sumatra, fires during the dry season in
Kalimantan, tectonic shifts and tsunami in Flores," he said.

Azwar said the most vulnerable areas were in Sumatra, Java,
Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara and Irian Jaya.

Several instruments to anticipate and manage natural disasters
were presented at the seminar at the Center for Research in
Science and Technology in Serpong, including tsunami tidal wave
demonstrations and oil spill contingency planning.

Azwar said the computer systems would complement President
Soeharto's order for local governments to set up disaster relief
funds to help victims of natural disasters.

Azwar said the government agencies involved in the disaster
management program included the National Development Planning
Board, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Public Works,
Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of
Transportation and the Armed Forces.

He said foreign military agencies were interested in joining
the program to help the Armed Forces anticipate natural
disasters, manage relief operations and quickly rebuild affected
areas. (01)