Day: October 30, 2021

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) urged the public to be aware of the impacts of La Nina that could likely occur during the period from October 2021 to February 2022 in Indonesia.

“We are now not only fighting the pandemic but also other disasters, specifically the hydrometeorological disaster,” Head of BNPB, Liutenant General Ganip Warsito, noted in a written statement received here, Saturday.

Warsito held a La Nina Anticipation National Coordination Meeting online with related parties to prepare anticipatory steps. Indonesia was largely hit by hydrometeorological disasters — floods, cyclones, and landslides — in the last five years, according to the BNPB.

The anticipatory efforts were made by checking and ensuring the readiness of personnel, tools, facilities, and other supporting infrastructure. This can be achieved by holding preparatory meetings by all components in the provinces and districts and cities.

Furthermore, at the regional level, the local government were urged to prepare a contingency plan for its regions. The BNPB has also instructed the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPD) to prepare a strategic plan for dealing with hydrometeorological disasters.

“The government can also prepare an emergency alert status in its territory if needed,” Warsito noted. Efforts to mitigate hydrometeorological disasters in the short term can be made by planting vegetation, cleaning waterways, repairing river embankment, and optimizing drainage strengthening, Warsito noted.

In addition, the BNPB has urged local governments, especially BPBDs, to always educate the public regarding preparations for hydrometeorological disasters.

The public should learn about the dangers of prolonged spells of rains in the slope area along the river. If it rains for over an hour, with visibility less than 30 meters, then the community must be evacuated temporarily.

For long-term mitigation, Warsito emphasized that spatial planning must conducted accordingly and take into account the disaster aspects.

“In the case of landslides, people must avoid using critical land as a housing complex,” he added.

Source: Antara News

Mexican Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon expressed his country’s support for Indonesia’s G20 Presidency in 2022 during a meeting with the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi ahead of the G20 Summit in Rome, Italy.

The meeting took place on Friday (October 29, 2021), local time.

Pointing to the theme of Indonesia’s Presidency, “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”, Marsudi emphasized the country’s commitment to pay more attention to the interests of developing countries. “Inclusiveness is the keyword for Indonesia’s Presidency of G20,” she said while virtually briefing the press about her Rome visit on Saturday.

Referring to the statement of the Mexico Foreign Affairs Minister, Marsudi said that Indonesia has adopted the right approach towards its G20 Presidency.

Indonesia will lead the group of 20 major economies for the first time from December 1, 2021 to November 30, 2022. Italy is scheduled to hand over the presidency to Indonesia at the G20 Summit in Rome, on October 30-31, 2021.

During its G20 presidency, Indonesia has said it will focus on health issues and pandemic handling as well as sustainable development, besides micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the digital economy sectors, which have become economic engines amid the pandemic.

Highlighting Indonesia’s vital spirit ahead of post-pandemic recovery, Marsudi stressed that Indonesia will not only focus on G20 members, but will also pay special attention to developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America as well as archipelagic countries in the Pacific and Caribbean regions.

Source: Antara News