Jokowi’s Capability on Handling Disasters

by: Abdul Makmun *)

There is no one in this world expects a disaster in any form. In the last few months of disasters have occurred in various regions in Indonesia, such as the earthquakes in Lombok, Palu, Donggala, Sigi and the last Tsunami in Banten and Lampung caused by the eruption of Mount Krakatau.
In an effort to deal with the Disaster, Jokowi is often seen in the vanguard when his people are affected. In a review in Lombok after the 7.0 Richter scale earthquake rocked Jokowi participated in sleeping in tents with tight security from the post-prison camp. He did this to see more closely the handling of the disaster in Lombok, NTB.
During his visit to Lombok, he also gave a delegation to Vice President Jusuf Kalla to give a speech at the closing of the Asian Games in Jakarta Palembang. He chose to directly observe the earthquake victims on Lombok.
During his stay in Lombok, Jokowi had the chance to greet and entertain the children of earthquake victims. Not only that, he also held a coordination meeting related to handling the earthquake. The meeting was attended by NTB Governor TGB Zainul Majdi, PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljo, National Police Chief Tito Karnavian, TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto and Head of BNPB Willem Rampangilei.
Elsewhere when the earthquake in Palu occurred, Jokowi also intentionally dropped the field directly to be able to see post-earthquake conditions and liquefaction. The former Governor of DKI Jakarta came to the location of the earthquake directly because he wanted to know in detail what was happening in the field, the situation and situation. He did this in order to make the right policy.
At that time Jokowi made several policies, one of which was to give a mandate to the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing to deploy heavy equipment. In addition, Jokowi also requested that he be able to borrow private-owned heavy equipment to be placed at the disaster site.
In addition, Jokowi also ordered TNI floating ships to be brought to the location of the earthquake. Jokowi commissioned the health minister to increase field hospitals, medical personnel and medicines.
The rapid movement carried out by Jokowi is a manifestation of a president’s concern for his people who are being hit by disaster. The presence of the number 1 person in Indonesia turned out to bring psychological effects to patients treated at the emergency hospital in the Airport Area.

At the end of 2018 the disaster also hit Indonesia again, precisely in the provinces of Banten and Lampung which were hit by the tsunami due to the eruption of Mount Krakatau.
Wearing a white shirt and jeans, President Joko Widodo walked along Carita Beach. During this visit he was accompanied by PUPR minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Health Nina Moeloek and Banten Governor Wahidin Halim.
Jokowi also appreciated the speed of evacuation on the ground that had been carried out by the TNI, the National Police assisted by the local government. He also gave instructions to related institutions to focus on evacuating victims.
Jokowi also explained that the Tsunami disaster in the Sunda Strait was a disaster that occurred outside the BMKG forecast, so that the community did not have the readiness to save themselves.
Responding to this, President Jokowi has given instructions to the BMKG to purchase early warning systems that can provide early warnings so that people can be more vigilant.
Until Tuesday (12/25/2018), BNPB noted that at least 429 people died, 1,485 people were injured, 154 people were missing, 16,082 people were evacuating to safer places.
Seeing the many casualties caused, President Jokowi also gave instructions to the relevant ranks to insert disaster education in the education curriculum. This effort is carried out so that people get knowledge about disaster mitigation early on.
The president is the number 1 person in a country, the arrival of the president at the disaster site certainly provides an example that a leader will not remain silent if there are people who are crying because of the disaster.
The President’s presence at the disaster site also had a positive impact on the recovery of a post-disaster area. With the results of the direct review, Jokowi was able to formulate policies in a targeted manner.
Jokowi’s arrival directly at the disaster site turned out to get appreciation from the former Indonesian President 2 period Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. He praised Jokowi’s steps in dealing with disasters. SBY also stated that his arrival directly to the disaster site was the right step. This certainly will make it easier to determine instructions for emergency response.
Jokowi’s arrival at the disaster site is an example of a leader who always wants his people to live in prosperity. The arrival of a leader is also expected to provide a psychological injection so that the victims can recover from trauma. In addition, the arrival of a leader at the disaster site is an assessment effort which will then be formulated in the form of policy.

) * The author is an observer of socio political issues

indonesiajokowiPresident Joko Widodo
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