President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) instructed Major General Suharyanto, who recently took office as new head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), to promptly fulfill his duty in mitigating natural disasters striking various Indonesian regions.

“President Jokowi instructed us to immediately work during this ‘disaster season'”, Suharyanto stated after the conclusion of the inauguration ceremony at the State Palace in, Jakarta, on Wednesday.

The major general admitted to finding it difficult to conceal his pride after the president entrusted him to head the disaster mitigation body despite huge tasks of handling natural disasters awaiting him following the inauguration.

“Indonesia, by virtue of its geographical position, is prone to natural disasters, particularly earthquakes, and we need to tackle flooding that often occurs in the first and last months of the year,” Suharyanto stated to reiterate BNPB’s importance in disaster mitigation in Indonesia.

Apart from being present for disaster mitigation missions to ensure residents’ safety and security from effects of the natural disaster, the BNPB must also be present in disaster prevention measures by educating and raising awareness of disaster mitigation among residents, he affirmed.

The new BNPB head is also committed to ensuring BNPB’s presence in post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.

“My work programme in the near future is to continue what my predecessor has done, and I will strive to ensure BNPB’s quick presence once a natural disaster is reported to ensure prompt handling for residents affected by the disaster and securing basic daily needs for natural disaster refugees,” Suharyanto stated.

Major General Suharyanto was born in Cimahi, West Java, in September 1967 and graduated from the infantry branch of the Military Academy in 1989. Suharyanto succeeded Lieutenant General Ganip Warsito as the BNPB head, as Warsito has reached retirement age.

Apart from Suharyanto, President Jokowi also inaugurated General Andika Perkasa as commander of the Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI), Lieutenant General Dudung Abdurrachman as chief of staff of the Indonesian Army (TNI AD), and 12 figures named as Indonesian ambassadors at the ceremony.

Source: Antara News