Jakarta – We call on President Prabowo Subianto to reconsider the status of the catastrophic floods in Sumatra. It is evident that local administrations in North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Aceh are overwhelmed and lack the capacity to handle the impacts of these deadly floods without the central government's intervention.
Mr. President, let us be honest: The current assessment of the government is flawed. We trust that you respond to constructive criticism; therefore, we are confident you will soon declare a national emergency in Sumatra.
A national emergency declaration enables the deployment of all necessary state equipment and resources to the affected areas. This action will save lives and secure the future of the young people devastated by these natural and man-made calamities. They will not forget your decisive action.
The much-needed declaration will allow Air Force Hercules aircraft to drop humanitarian aid, and volunteer groups and nongovernmental organizations from across the archipelago and various countries to join the rehabilitation, and reconstruction if necessary, efforts. The more parties lend a hand the more lives will be saved.
Regional leaders have effectively waved the white flag. East Aceh Regent Iskandar Usman, South Aceh Regent Mirwan and Central Aceh acting regent Haili Yoga have admitted they cannot manage this crisis without substantial direct assistance from the central government.
The front-page story in Tuesday's edition of The Jakarta Post, titled "Regional leaders plead for food aid from Jakarta," featured a tearful Abdul Ghani searching for his missing wife. This heartbreaking image served as a stark rebuttal to the government's initial stance, quoted in headlines just a day prior, that a provincial emergency was sufficient because "the worst has passed."
In reality, flood-hit Sumatra faces hunger. While local leaders plead for help because their burdens have become unbearable, the central response has been lackluster.
Critics argue this is likely the worst government response to a natural disaster in a decade. Leadership has been noticeably absent in managing the crisis. Worse, the head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Lt. Gen. Suharyanto, sparked public outrage when he initially belittled the situation, suggesting the problems looked "serious on social media only." While he later apologized, such comments suggest a disconnect from reality.
Millions of people are severely affected, and local governments lack the capacity for rescue and rehabilitation. Amid the nearly invisible presence of the central government, the public's spontaneous response has been genuinely remarkable. Citizens have utilized their own networks to deliver much-needed concrete aid to their compatriots.
President Prabowo's visit to North Sumatra's Tapanuli on Monday revealed the devastation. He expressed shock, and rightfully so. Sumatra is witnessing its most fatal disaster since the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. With hundreds still missing, the death toll threatens to exceed 1,000.
By all metrics, these provinces deserve the status of a national emergency. Under Law No. 24/2007 and Government Regulation No. 21/2008, the severity of the death toll, financial losses, damaged facilities and socio-economic impact justify raising the emergency status to the highest level.
The government previously declared the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2004 Aceh and Nias tsunami, and the 1992 Flores tsunami as national emergencies. Sumatra deserves the same status to accelerate humanitarian operations immediately.
Furthermore, officials must show genuine empathy. The Forestry Ministry should stop denying the obvious: that Indonesian forests have been mismanaged and exploited irresponsibly. It is nearly impossible for such environmental crimes to occur without the negligence or consent of relevant officials.
Additionally, Coordinating Food Minister Zulkifli Hasan's public relations stunt, carrying a sack of rice for cameras in the West Sumatra provincial capital of Padang, rang hollow to an outraged public.
We hope the President acts immediately to support the people affected by this disaster and helps them rebuild their lives. It is indeed an act of true statesmanship.
Source: https://asianews.network/it-is-a-national-disaster-the-jakarta-post