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Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Lieutenant General Suharyanto (second right), Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Head Dwikorita Karnawati (right), and UNDRR Special Representative Mami Mizutori (second right), and students after an earthquake and tsunami drill in Badung, Bali on Friday (April 22, 2022). (ANTARA PHOTO/Fikri Yusuf/rwa/KT) - 

Tanjung Benoa Village in Bali was proposed to get UNESCO's recognition as a tsunami-ready community, according to a written statement here on Sunday.

The proposal was made by seven villages of South Kuta Sub-District and their efforts will be shared in a session in the 7th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) on May 23-28, 2022,

"The proposer should be the community itself, not from BNPB (National Disaster Mitigation Agency) or BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency). We only guide and accompany," Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Head Dwikorita Karnawati said on Friday (April 22).

Seven villages that proposed the recognition for Tanjung Benoa as tsunami-ready community are Panggarangan Village, Pangandaran Village, Kemadang Village, Gelagah Village, Tambakrejo Village, Tanjung Benoa Village and Kuta Mandalika Village.

Meanwhile, UNESCO has set 12 indicators as an assessment of the disaster alert community. The twelve indicators are divided into three categories, namely identification, preparedness, and response.

The preparedness against tsunamis is part of the community-based programs with active collaboration among several parties such as community leaders, tsunami early warning centers, as well as local and national disaster mitigation agencies.

In gaining UNESCO's recognition, communities at the village level are expected to build networks between villages or other parties, such as varsities or the business world.

In addition, communities are encouraged to strive to meet high standards of disaster readiness by being structured, systematic, and science-based.

Tanjung Benoa Village has signed a cooperation agreement with several hotels having three or more floors to function them as temporary evacuation sites during tsunamis.

In April 2022, before conferring the recognition to the villages, UNESCO will conduct field verification activities//ANT