Indonesia
Country Report
CONTENTS

1. BACKGROUND *2. COORDINATION FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT *2.1. Development of Institutional Arrangement *2.2. Implementing Unit *2.3. Current Issue *2.4. Regional Coordination *3. EMPOWERMENT COMMUNITIES *4. CONCLUSION *1. BACKGROUND
Indonesia is subject to many different natural hazards as well as man-made disaster such as earthquakes, tsunami, volcanic
eruptions, forest fires, flood, and also technological failures.
Three earthquake belts run through Indonesia subjecting the areas of Sumatera, Java, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, Sulawesi andIrian Jaya to seismic activity. In Sumatera, shallow and most damaging earthquakes with a magnitude of greater than 5,0 occurred
about 15 times during the last 100 years.
Human settlements are often in, or close to, hazard areas. This is partly due to high population densities in some areas for instancein the case of volcanoes because of high fertility of the soil. Indonesia has 129 active volcanoes, 70 are classified as dangerous, and500 inactive ones.
Many areas of Indonesia flood annually especially in the western and central parts of the country. The effect of La Nina isexacerbated by land use mismanagement in several areas. Landslides occur regularly during monsoon rains especially soft andunstable land of Sumatera and Java island.
Fires remain the most frequent disaster as indicated in 1997, Indonesia experiencing a wide and uncontrolled forest and land fires.
The resulting haze affected almost 20 million people on the islands of Kalimantan and Sumatera and in the neighbouring countries ofSingapore, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.
The following Table shows the recapitulation of victims and damages caused by disasters during 1993/1994 to 1997/1998.

2. COORDINATION FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT
2.1. Development of Institutional Arrangement
National coordinated arrangement for natural disasters was initiated in 1966 by the establishment of Advisory Board for Natural
Disaster Management, its activities were still focused on emergency relief for disaster victims. In 1979, the National Natural
Disaster Management Coordinating Board known as Bakornas PBA (Penanggulangan Bencana Alam) was established. As
indicated by its name, the activities were still focused on natural disaster but extended its role including repressive andrehabilitative activities.
Bakornas PBA was revised in 1990 and became Bakornas PB (without A), the one which is in effect presently with the following
major considerations :That the management should also include man-made disaster and provide assistance not only during and after disasteroccurred.
That natural as well as man-made disaster must be managed before, during and after their occurrences covering aspects ofprevention, mitigation, rescue, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

As an expansion and follow up of the implementation of the Presidential Decree No. 43/1990, in 1995 the Chairman of Bakornas PB
issued a decree concerning Organisation, Tasks, Function and Job Description of the board as follows :Formulates planning of integrated, coordinated and sustained disaster management general policy and action programs
Coordinates the planning of disaster management efforts, either before, during and after disaster covering prevention,mitigation, rescue, rehabilitation and reconstruction
Prepares and formulates guidelines on the implementation of integrated and coordinated disaster management
Coordinates disaster management supervision, control, monitoring, and evaluation
Coordinates the cooperation among governmental as well as non-governmental organizations in the filed of disastermanagement, either nationally or internationallyCoordinates the receipt, distribution and use of assistance for disaster management
Writes report on the implementation of disaster management activities to the President
Other disaster management tasks as directed by the President

2.2. Implementing Unit
The establishment of Bakornas PB followed by the establishment of similar non-structural institution to cope with disaster inprovincial as well as district level namely Satkorlak PB (Provincial Disaster Management Coordination Unit) and Satlak PB (DistrictDisaster Management Implementing Unit) respectively. District units as the front line organization can mobilize all related agencies attheir respective district, sub-districts, and villages as well as involve local communities organizations.

2.3. Current Issue
The National Disaster Management Coordinating Board (Bakornas PB) is chaired by the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfareand Poverty Alleviation (Menko Kesra dan Taskin) who reports directly to the President. Main functions of Bakornas PB iscoordination, consultation, and information.
Disaster Management, Human Resources Development and Poverty Alleviation are the main focus of the State Coordinating Minister
for People's Welfare and Poverty Alleviation. The Coordinating Minister issued Decision No. 22 on Organization, Task, Function andJob Description within the Coordinating Minister and establish one Assistant who are solely responsible for Disaster Management.
Disaster management issue is one of major issues discussed regularly during Monthly Limited Cabinet Meeting on People's Welfare
chaired by the President. One week prior to the Cabinet Meeting, a Coordination Cabinet Meeting on People's Welfare and Poverty
Alleviation is held and chaired by the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty Alleviation. Related Ministers report ondisaster management activities undertaken within respective Departments. One week before the Coordination Cabinet Meeting, ameeting of Permanent Working Committee, comprising Echelon I of related Departments, is held chaired by Secretary of theCoordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty Alleviation.

2.4. Regional Coordination
Among others, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and Government of Malaysia signed an MoU concerning DisasterCooperation and Assistance in Kuala Lumpur on December 11, 1997. Both parties agree to promote and maintain cooperation andmay request for assistance upon any occurrences of any disaster in line with the spirit of mutual cooperation. A Joint Committee on
Disaster Cooperation and Assistance conducted a meeting in Jakarta in July, 1998 to discuss activities such as training, exchange ofexperts, as well as technical and scientific information related to any disaster.

3. EMPOWERMENT COMMUNITIESCurrent situation as a result of monetary and economic crisis since the middle of 1997 has affected the whole country. The impactshas greatly increased the extent and magnitude of social problems. The grave situation has been aggravated by the occurrence of El
Nino causing large scale forest and land fires, drought, and even famine. Economic and environmental losses have undoubtedly
drained the country's natural resources making more difficult to sustain its development. Currently Indonesia is also preparing for theincoming La Nina that may cause floods and landslides in disaster prone areas of the country.
To deal with the impacts and related problems, strategic approach is to apply principles of the social safety net to disastermanagement.
Promotion of community awareness particularly those who live in disaster's prone areas has to be prioritised, so they can live, adapt
and cope day-to-day with disaster threat. Empowering communities is conducted by optimising their own resources and potentialities,
and by providing initial limited incentives to enable them to help themselves. Mapping of disaster prone areas in line with Disaster
Information System are also important.
Funded by UNDP, Bakornas PB has been executing a project to strengthen disaster management in Indonesia. It aims to enhancedisaster management capacities of the Bakornas PB Secretariat. Presently the project is focusing on completion of Disaster
Information System (DIS). DIS is connected to Sikesra-Net (People's Welfare Information System Network), a home page managed
by Indonesian Crisis Centre at Vice President Office. The Sikesra-Net can be accessed through Sikesra-net@http://kesra.go.id.
The Office of Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty Alleviation/Secretariat of National Disaster Management
Coordinating Board currently revitalises the Secretariat, encourages public for active participation, and launches public campaign inline with IDNDR program. These activities constitute anticipation for the possible incoming La Nina phenomena and forest and landfires.

4. CONCLUSION
Bakornas PB puts high priority to improve its performance and role, it also encourages international cooperation for better
management of disasters. In the mean time, community empowerment approach will be improved as a part of Social Safety Net
program particularly for those people living in disaster prone areas and enable them to know the types and risks as well as adapt andcope with disaster threat.