Prabowo Says Government’s Disaster Response Is Faster and More Extensive

President Prabowo Subianto said Indonesia is responding to natural disasters faster and on a larger scale than it did in previous years, while warning that the country must prepare for more emergencies.

He made the assessment during a virtual limited meeting at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday to discuss the response to several disasters. Prabowo said the government had mounted a substantial and rapid response to floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.

“

We restored conditions in Aceh and West Sumatra using our own strength. In my view, we were quite successful.

“We restored conditions in Aceh and West Sumatra using our own strength. In my view, we were quite successful,” Prabowo said. He also described the response to forest and land fires in several regions as extensive, although he acknowledged delays in some areas.

“

In our planning, I ask that we apply the principle that it is better to have more than less.

The president asked officials to record the obstacles encountered during the response and use them in planning for future disasters. “In our planning, I ask that we apply the principle that it is better to have more than less,” he said.

Prabowo stressed the need for greater readiness because Indonesia sits on the Ring of Fire and faces risks including earthquakes, volcanic activity and forest fires. He called for a significant increase in funding for disaster mitigation and requested updates on the response to the Flores earthquake, activity at Mount Anak Krakatau and forest and land fires from ministries, agencies and regional governments.

“

We must be ready to face conditions like this at any time.