DISASTER SIMULATIONS TO BE INCLUDED IN NATIONAL PROGRAM

Benkulu, Dec 10 (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono has said training exercises designed as rehearsals of disasters would be part of the national program.

Speaking after attending an earthquake and tsunami simulation here on Thursday, Laksono said such exercises were more effective for the people to get familiar with unexpected disasters.

"I have instructed the National Disaster Management Board (BPBN) to make disaster simulation part of the national program, especially for earthquake-prone regions," Laksono said.

According to the minister, some 50 districts in Indonesia had organized disaster field rehearsal and it was expected to be followed by all regions especially disaster-prone areas across the country.

Laksono admitted that Indonesia's 17,000 islands are scattered along a belt of volcanic and seismic activity, known as the Pacific "Ring of Fire", and that the area is one of the most quake-prone places on earth.

Since Indonesia is prone to earthquake, the coordinating minister for people's welfare said the government had allocated disaster budget of Rp3 trillion through regional budget (APBD).

He said the disaster-prone areas in Indonesia were on top of government priority, and therefore BPBN and Regional Disaster Management Board (BPBD) were required to regularly familiarize the disaster simulation to the people.

Through the regular exercise and its familiarization, Laksono said it would minimize the number of victims when a disaster really occurs unexpectedly.

Meanwhile Bengkulu Governor Agusrin Maryono Najamuddin said the provincial administration had formed a disaster mitigation task force with around 6,000 members.

Bengkulu BPBD spokesman Yuhanes Nur said three sub districts-were involved in Thursday's disaster simulation which was participated in by around 10 thousand people.

The simulation was also participated in by Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri besides Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono.