Padang, (Antaranews Sumbar) - Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla (JK) shares knowledge on strengthening disaster mitigation and disaster reduction to participants of the Annual Scientific Meeting (PIT) of Disaster Research at Andalas University (Unand) Padang, West Sumatra, on Wednesday.
"When exploiting the culture, disaster victims can be reduced," Vice President stated in his speech in Padang.
He mentioned the experience when dealing with the victims of earthquake and tsunami disaster in Aceh in 2004 between Banda Aceh and Simeuleu Island.
In these two places there are significant casualties, in Banda Aceh up to hundreds of thousands and in Simeuleu only a dozen.
According to him, there has been disaster response and tsunami education in Simeuleu, while Banda Aceh community is less educated.
So when tsunami was happening, the communities who have disaster education can immediately know and anticipate the signs of disaster by running away from the coastline and gathered on high ground.
While people with low education will be difficult and it caused a lot of victims.
Here is a small part of the effort that all Indonesians need to do in disaster management, he remarked.
Meanwhile, Rector of Andalas University, Prof Tafdil Husni added the the arrival of Vice President will motivate participants in raising the motivation of disaster solutions. (cha)