Village Development Ministry urges villages to strengthen disaster mitigation capacity
Jakarta (ANTARA) — The Ministry of Villages and Disadvantaged Regions Development (Kemendes PDT) is pushing to enhance village capacity in disaster mitigation and preparedness, following a rising trend of hydrometeorological disasters that directly affect rural areas.
"What is striking is that 98.33 per cent are hydrometeorological disasters — floods, extreme weather, landslides, forest fires and droughts. The most vulnerable and most at risk are villages," said Director General for the Acceleration of Disadvantaged Regions Development (PPDT) at Kemendes PDT, Samsul Widodo.
He made the remarks during a Workshop on the Village Climate Risk Index (IRID) Formula as an Additional Incentive for Village Funds in Disadvantaged Regions, held at the PPDT Directorate General offices in Jakarta on Thursday.
Samsul Widodo also noted that total disaster events reached 3,116 throughout 2025, representing a 121 per cent increase compared with 2024.
"I can report — this is data we updated yesterday — that total disaster events stood at 3,116 throughout 2025, up 121 per cent on 2024. The damage impact has been quite significant," he said.
According to him, villages bear the brunt of disasters because their residents have limited alternative sources of livelihood.
"I always say, if we Jakarta residents are affected, we still have savings or other resources. But for village people, that is no longer the case. It means that their one and only rice paddy, their one and only garden, their one and only livestock — they have no alternatives," he said.
Samsul Widodo urged that improvements in village disaster mitigation capacity be carried out systematically, including through training for village heads and their officials.
He also emphasised the importance of utilising the Village Climate Risk Index as a foundation for policy and budgeting, so that it does not remain merely as data.
Through capacity strengthening, integration of the risk index into policy, and mainstreaming of climate change issues, Kemendes PDT hopes that villages will be able to enhance their resilience to disasters whilst safeguarding the sustainability of development.
"What is striking is that 98.33 per cent are hydrometeorological disasters — floods, extreme weather, landslides, forest fires and droughts. The most vulnerable and most at risk are villages," said Director General for the Acceleration of Disadvantaged Regions Development (PPDT) at Kemendes PDT, Samsul Widodo.
He made the remarks during a Workshop on the Village Climate Risk Index (IRID) Formula as an Additional Incentive for Village Funds in Disadvantaged Regions, held at the PPDT Directorate General offices in Jakarta on Thursday.
Samsul Widodo also noted that total disaster events reached 3,116 throughout 2025, representing a 121 per cent increase compared with 2024.
"I can report — this is data we updated yesterday — that total disaster events stood at 3,116 throughout 2025, up 121 per cent on 2024. The damage impact has been quite significant," he said.
According to him, villages bear the brunt of disasters because their residents have limited alternative sources of livelihood.
"I always say, if we Jakarta residents are affected, we still have savings or other resources. But for village people, that is no longer the case. It means that their one and only rice paddy, their one and only garden, their one and only livestock — they have no alternatives," he said.
Samsul Widodo urged that improvements in village disaster mitigation capacity be carried out systematically, including through training for village heads and their officials.
He also emphasised the importance of utilising the Village Climate Risk Index as a foundation for policy and budgeting, so that it does not remain merely as data.
Through capacity strengthening, integration of the risk index into policy, and mainstreaming of climate change issues, Kemendes PDT hopes that villages will be able to enhance their resilience to disasters whilst safeguarding the sustainability of development.