ID :
84737
Fri, 10/16/2009 - 01:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/84737
The shortlink copeid
UN DEPUTY CHIEF PRAISES RI'S EMERGENCY RESPONSES
Jakarta, Oct 15 (ANTARA) - Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) for Humanitarian Affairs, Ambassador John Holmes, has praised the Indonesian government's emergency responses to natural disasters.
The Indonesian government's emergency response actions were good and very fast he said at a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday.
"We will be very happy if we do not have to do our job here because the Indonesian government is handling it so well. Its emergency response actions are among the most successful in the world," he said.
However, the concerning thing now for the world community, especially in the Asian Region which had been hit by many disasters such as floods, typhoons and earthquakes, was preparing the necessary actions to minimize the impact of the disaster itself.
He said that Disaster Risk Reduction can rightly be a government programs to deal with any disasters in the future and reduce casualties.
"Disaster Risk Reduction steps must be considered next. It is how the government familiarizes the people with what to do when a disaster like an earth quake occurs, and minimize casualties," said Holmes.
Beside informing the correct action when disaster strikes, the government must also ensure that all buildings or buildings to be constructed will meet seismic building standards or resilient foundations.
"For the Indonesian government must also consider the construction of buildings to be re-built in earthquake-prone locations, the building must meet requirements of earthquake resilience, so as to reduce the risk of a major disaster in the future," he added.
Regarding the development of infrastructure in earthquake-hit areas, Holmes said the first priority was reconstruction or repair of damaged hospitals and schools to help the recovery of the victims physically and psychologically.
Holmes had previously visited the disaster site in Padang, West Sumatra on Wednesday (Oct 14) by helicopter to see in person the impact of the magnitude-7.6 earthquake on the local people.
Earlier, Holmes also handed US$38 million in emergency aid funds from the UN to the Indonesian government for earthquake victims in West Sumatra.*** 3 ***
(T.A050/H-YH/B/HAJM/B003)
The Indonesian government's emergency response actions were good and very fast he said at a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday.
"We will be very happy if we do not have to do our job here because the Indonesian government is handling it so well. Its emergency response actions are among the most successful in the world," he said.
However, the concerning thing now for the world community, especially in the Asian Region which had been hit by many disasters such as floods, typhoons and earthquakes, was preparing the necessary actions to minimize the impact of the disaster itself.
He said that Disaster Risk Reduction can rightly be a government programs to deal with any disasters in the future and reduce casualties.
"Disaster Risk Reduction steps must be considered next. It is how the government familiarizes the people with what to do when a disaster like an earth quake occurs, and minimize casualties," said Holmes.
Beside informing the correct action when disaster strikes, the government must also ensure that all buildings or buildings to be constructed will meet seismic building standards or resilient foundations.
"For the Indonesian government must also consider the construction of buildings to be re-built in earthquake-prone locations, the building must meet requirements of earthquake resilience, so as to reduce the risk of a major disaster in the future," he added.
Regarding the development of infrastructure in earthquake-hit areas, Holmes said the first priority was reconstruction or repair of damaged hospitals and schools to help the recovery of the victims physically and psychologically.
Holmes had previously visited the disaster site in Padang, West Sumatra on Wednesday (Oct 14) by helicopter to see in person the impact of the magnitude-7.6 earthquake on the local people.
Earlier, Holmes also handed US$38 million in emergency aid funds from the UN to the Indonesian government for earthquake victims in West Sumatra.*** 3 ***
(T.A050/H-YH/B/HAJM/B003)
