VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia’s inflation rate in December 2018 reached 0.62 percent, down from 0.71 percent in the same month a year earlier, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said on Wednesday. The agency stated the December 2018 inflation brought the calendar inflation from January to December 2018 to 3.13 percent and the year-on-year inflation to 3.13 percent. The agency noted that 80 out of 82 cities surveyed for consumer price index (IHK) in December 2018 recorded inflation, and only two cities saw deflation. (ANTARA)

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is still calculating the losses caused by  the Sunda Strait tsunami that hit five districts in the Indonesian provinces of Banten and Lampung, according to BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

"From the calculation, we will determine the cost for rehabilitation and reconstruction, so that the government can prepare a budget," Nugroho stated in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He mentioned that some of the facilities most needed for disaster management in tsunami-affected areas, especially Pandeglang district, are temporary housing or refugee camps as well as temporary classes for children.

He also mentioned that more than 11 thousand refugees in Pandeglang district currently took shelter in some 41 school buildings that have not been used due to New Year holidays.

"However, on Monday (Jan 7), the students will start going to school, and so the refugees need to be moved," he explained.

He further revealed that some refugees in Pandeglang district took shelter in school buildings not because their houses were damaged, but they were traumatized by the tsunami. Some of them were also afraid of the possibility of a subsequent tsunami.

"Therefore, the local government of Pandeglang district will ask them to return to their respective homes," Nugroho added.

The Sunda Strait tsunami occurred following an eruption and partial collapse of the Anak Krakatau volcano on Saturday (Dec 22).

Five districts are affected in the two tsunami-hit provinces, namely Pandeglang and Serang in Banten Province as well as South Lampung, Pesawaran, and Tanggamus in Lampung Province. (ANTARA)

The government will continue to improve the implementation of the social forestry program in 2019 and prepare some 13 million hectares of land to be distributed under the program.

Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya noted in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday that the social forestry program will be carried forward in 2019, and the government has prepared some 13 million hectares of land.

The minister admitted that forest management by the public was still much lesser as compared to that by the private sector, with a ratio of 95:5.

"Within the next five to six years, we hope to be able to distribute some 12 to 13 million hectares of land and the ratio of forest management by private sectors to the public could reach 70:30," Nurbaya noted at a discussion on the ministry`s performance.

She called on all ranks of the ministry to focus on the program and to not be distracted by the political situation ahead of the general elections.

"We have to continue these good things since early of the year. Thus, all will be prepared when the cabinet has ended its period. I have prepared the measures to ease the process," Nurbaya explained.

The minister has applauded the good work of all personnel in the ministry that it could receive 93 awards during the 2014-2018 period for its sound management in the areas of the budget, staffing, state property, administration, technology, and information.

"I thank all ranks of the ministry and partners. This achievement cannot be separated from the improvement in bureaucratic performance that has fostered hope and trust," she added. (ANTARA)

At least 34 victims are allegedly still buried by a landslide that hit Sirnaresmi Village in Sukabumi District of West Java, according to the joint search and rescue (SAR) team.

"Evacuation of the landslide victims in Sukabumi is being conducted by the joint SAR team comprising the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), Indonesian military and police, National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), and volunteers," a spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) noted in a statement in Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday.

Preliminary data of the emergency response post in Sirnaresmi Village showed that the landslide on Monday had buried 30 houses in the area.

The landslide has killed at least nine villagers and injured four others, while 34 people are still missing. Sixty people had sought refuge.

The authority failed to deploy heavy equipment to search the victims due to difficulty in accessing the location.

Sutopo said more landslides still occur in the area but of lower intensity. (ANTARA)