Indonesian Red Cross chairman urges volunteers to prepare for prolonged drought

Jusuf Kalla (JK), the Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), has issued a stark warning regarding the ongoing drought, which is predicted to persist until the end of the year. He urged all PMI volunteers to remain vigilant and prepared to support communities grappling with the effects of the dry spell.

"Drought is happening everywhere now, El Nino, and it could last until the end of this year," Kalla stated during the inauguration of the PMI Central Java management in Semarang. He highlighted that the drought could lead to a dual crisis: reduced agricultural supplies and a shortage of clean water. In response, PMI is mobilizing 200 water tank trucks to be dispatched across Indonesia, with a particular focus on Java, Bali, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, and Sumatra – regions currently facing the brunt of the crisis.

Kalla also emphasized the critical role of volunteer preparedness in disaster management. He noted that Indonesia, situated in the "Ring of Fire," is inherently prone to natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis. Therefore, he stressed that PMI and its volunteers must always be ready to assist the public. "Preparedness must work well. How does PMI work well? First, through the work of volunteers who are on the ground. Therefore, they must have good training and preparation. We have over one million trained PMI volunteers," Kalla explained.

He further commended the dedication of PMI volunteers, who consistently perform their duties without seeking payment. "Because volunteers want to help the community, without pay or anything else," Kalla remarked, underscoring their selfless commitment to serving the nation.