REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MALANG -- Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa has said that natural disasters that have hit several regions in Indonesia, have push people into poverty again.
"Some 80 percent of people affected by natural disasters have finally pushed them into poverty again. Although, they had previously been categorized as prosperous," she said here, Sunday.
She cited data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) that 323 towns and districts across the country are prone to natural disasters during December this year.
The minister also revealed that the number of people displaced by natural disasters like flood, landslide and volcano eruption, significantly increases annually.
The number of evacuees reached 3.2 million during 2017, up from 2.7 million in 2016 and 1.2 million in 2015, Minister Parawansa said while officially closing the National Jamboree of Muhammadiyah's volunteers, which was organized by the Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC).
She lauded the jamboree because volunteers played crucial roles in helping victims of natural disasters.
On the previous day in Bantul, Yogyakarta, the minister called on the public to stay vigilant as several regions in Indonesia are experiencing severe weather lately.
She also asked every stakeholder in charge of disaster handling, to always be ready to deliver assistance particularly during this December, the peak of rainy season.
"The peak of rainy season is in December, therefore we must increase our vigilance and alertness. Hopefully, we can pass this December safely," she said.
The minister handed over relief aid worth Rp1.8 billion to help victims of floods, landslides and Cempaka tropical cyclone in four districts and one town in Yogyakarta.
Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on the public to stay vigilant as several regions in Indonesia are experiencing severe weather lately.
"I call on the public to stay vigilant because the weather is very extreme," Jokowi told the media in Jakarta, on Saturday.
Severe weather has triggered strong wind, heavy rains, and high sea waves.
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