Social Affairs Ministry Deploys Tagana Nationwide to Address Clean Water Shortages

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Social Affairs has fully mobilised all Taruna Siaga Bencana (Tagana) personnel to collaborate with local governments in overcoming the shortage of clean water availability caused by drought, which has begun to affect several regions during this year’s dry season.

Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, met in Jakarta on Thursday, stated that the deployment of these disaster management volunteers is focused on areas identified on the high-risk map for water supply shortages.

“We are ready to assist in areas prone to clean water shortages. We will later collaborate with Local Governments to help meet the needs there,” he said.

He explained that the Ministry of Social and Family Affairs has completed the mapping of zones in Indonesia most affected by dry hydrometeorological phenomena this year.

One of the regions receiving special attention from the ministry includes East Java Province, as well as most areas in Sumatra and Nusa Tenggara, which are reported to be among the regions with the highest air temperatures and greatest vulnerability to drought.

Saifullah cited examples such as Bojonegoro Regency in East Java, which historically receives regular clean water delivery interventions from the Ministry of Social Affairs during the dry season.

Through this comprehensive mapping, Tagana personnel in the regions will be deployed tactically to provide direct logistical and operational support at specific crisis points requiring supply.

The Ministry of Social Affairs confirmed that the mapping of clean water supply intervention zones also refers to climate analysis reports from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). In this regard, BMKG reported that by the end of May 2026, the expansion of drought areas began across 200 seasonal zones (11.83 per cent of landmass).

The movement of these dry zones is expected to surge in June, entering 198 new seasonal zones or equivalent to 31.6 per cent of the land area, covering regions from southern DKI Jakarta to most of Kalimantan.

Entering July, the dry season movement will further encroach upon 66 other seasonal zones, including most of Sumatra (including western Jambi), most of Java, East Kalimantan, eastern South Kalimantan, most of Sulawesi, and North Maluku.

“Yes, Tagana is always ready. We are assisting alongside local governments. We map the areas and will provide support at specific points. This rapid response step prioritises the principle of close partnership with local governments to ensure the distribution of clean water facilities is effective, well-targeted, and does not overlap in the field,” he added.