Indonesia, US Collaborate on Disaster Early Warning Systems

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia's Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) partner on early warning systems for disaster risk reduction.

This week, BMKG and USAID signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together to strengthen, develop, and promote scientific and technical cooperation activities on disaster early warning systems, according to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Jakarta on Friday, March 31.

"BMKG Indonesia is very pleased to strengthen our cooperation with the United States through the USAID, so that we can learn from one another, primarily related to weather, climate, earthquake, and tsunami phenomena that significantly affect the safety and prosperity of the community of the two countries," Head of BMKG Dwikorita Karnawati said.

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Karnawati highlighted BMKG's hopes that the collaboration will generate and drive new knowledge and innovations deemed increasingly necessary in the provision of information and improvement of early warning systems amid the increasing challenges of disaster events.

Under the new agreement, the BMKG and USAID will partner to enhance impact-based forecasting, bolster the flash flood guidance system for the Asia and Pacific region, and improve earthquake notifications and tsunami warnings.

"We are pleased to deepen our partnership with the Government of Indonesia to address the challenges of climate change. Along with BMKG’s leadership, we are improving public early warning systems to provide information on weather, climate, earthquakes, and tsunamis that is timely, accurate, comprehensive, and easy to understand," USAID Indonesia Mission Director Jeff Cohen said.

Cohen further said that USAID and BMKG will also conduct joint analysis, share information and best practices, and exchange visits.

The US Embassy said in its statement that the two partners further plan to intensify their partnership through new grant agreements.

Source: State News Antara