BNPB calls for professional, inclusive disaster management governance

Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) emphasized the importance of professional and inclusive disaster management governance in response to the high frequency of disaster events in Indonesia.

"Indonesia experienced an average of 10 disaster events per day throughout 2024, with a total of 3,472 cases of disasters recorded throughout the year," Deputy for System and Strategy at BNPB Raditya Jati noted in a statement received here on Thursday.

He explained that the highest disaster risks stem from disasters triggered by climate change, causing extreme weather, floods, and forest and land fires.

The BNPB expressed hope that this situation would further highlight the urgency for all regional heads, including those in Eastern Indonesia, to thoroughly improve the disaster management system.

During a coaching clinic event initiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Wednesday, he reminded all regional governments in Eastern Indonesia to synchronize their planning based on the 2020–2044 Disaster Management Master Plan (RIPB).

Jati remarked that this aims to make the disaster management system more adaptive, inclusive, and integrated.

He pointed out that disaster challenges are complex and multidimensional. Indonesia's geographic location on the Pacific Ring of Fire makes the country prone to various natural disasters, including earthquakes and tsunamis.

Based on the World Risk Index 2024, Indonesia ranks second globally as the country with the highest disaster risks in the world after the Philippines. The index assesses the risks of disasters, exposure levels, and the community's capacity to respond to disasters.

Jati assessed that the high frequency of disasters not only threatens lives but can also hinder development and cause significant economic losses.

"Thus, comprehensive planning and cross-sectoral collaboration are key to strengthening the nation's disaster resilience," he remarked.