VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati requested to increase the benefits and roles of State Property (BMN) and Regional Property (BMD) to deal with COVID-19.

"With the current condition, the real role of BMN and BMD is very important. We must try not to be in vain or useless," Sri Mulyani said in Jakarta, on Tuesday.

She said many BMN and BMD properties can be optimally utilized for COVID-19 purposes, for example, as an isolation room to observation and treatment facilities.

"We can use it to deal with COVID-19," she said.

He hopes that ministries, institutions, and local governments will continue to increase the use of these state-owned goods so they function not only for the government but also for society and the economy.

"The role of state property is very important in our economy and must be improved," she said.

Sri Mulyani stated that BMN's assessment last year sees an increase of fixed assets value in LKPP's balance sheet from Rp 1,931.1 trillion to Rp 5,949.9 trillion.

“This indicates a change in market value, also illustrates our efforts in using state finances responsibly," she said.

She said it also increased the value of assets belonging to the central government from previously Rp6,325.3 trillion now to Rp10,467.5 trillion.

"I am grateful to all ministries and agencies who continue to improve their administration and update the assessment of BMN as a form of our accountability," she said. (Antaranews)

Indonesian Task Force for COVID-19 Response volunteers urged people to abide by health protocols to stop COVID-19 transmission, as healthcare workers reel from exhaustion over having to work continuously to handle an increasing number of cases.

Medical volunteers at hospitals and community health centers were also bogged down by fatigue, while the medical personnel’s resources were running out, Jossep F. William, chief coordinator of the Task Force's medical volunteers, stated during a teleconference on Monday.

"Medical personnel are tired, but we are striving to keep up the spirits since it is still a long way for the pandemic to be brought under control, and in fact, it is increasing, and there are no signs of a decline. We are working with professional organizations, such as the IDI (Indonesian Doctors' Association), PPNI (Indonesian Nurses' Association), and others, to ready the personnel needed at emergency hospitals," he said.

The number of nurses and midwives, reaching some two thousand, is adequate. However, there is a shortage of doctors, according to William.

To handle the shortage of medical personnel, the COVID-19 Handling Task Force is considering recruiting internship doctors while still being accompanied by experienced doctors.

"The volunteer medics have been extremely busy, while ambulances are also busy and full almost every day over the past week. The ambulances that transfer those testing positive (for COVID-19) at the Wisma Atlet Makeshift Hospital have to be in queue, so they cannot pick patients up immediately," he stated.

A spike in the number of confirmed cases had affected healthcare workers. Hence, he urged the public to follow strict health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"We really need people's help to implement health protocols. If we continue like this, we will collapse because we are so overwhelmed. Now, we are still holding on, but we do not know how long it will last," he added. (Antaranews)

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded 2,059 natural disasters that struck Indonesia during the period from January to September 20, with the number of deaths reaching 282.

Most disasters were hydrometeorological in nature, or disasters that occurred as a result of the meteorological phenomena, the BNPB tweeted on Sunday.

Indonesia was hit by 771 incidents of floods, 534 whirlwinds, and 377 landslides.

The natural disasters had affected and displaced a total of 4.2 million people, claimed 282 lives, and rendered 25 people missing while causing injuries to 427 others.

They also damaged 30,655 homes and 1,419 public facilities.

The country also recorded a total of 302 forest and land fires as well as five volcanic eruptions.

The BNPB also reported non-natural disasters in the form of the COVID-19 epidemic, with the number of confirmed cases totaling 244,676.

A total of 9,553 people succumbed to COVID-19, while 177,327 recoveries were recorded since President Joko Widodo announced the country's first confirmed COVID-19 cases on March 2, 2020. (Antaranews)

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded 2,059 natural disasters that struck Indonesia during the period from January to September 20, with the number of deaths reaching 282.

Most disasters were hydrometeorological in nature, or disasters that occurred as a result of the meteorological phenomena, the BNPB tweeted on Sunday.

Indonesia was hit by 771 incidents of floods, 534 whirlwinds, and 377 landslides.

The natural disasters had affected and displaced a total of 4.2 million people, claimed 282 lives, and rendered 25 people missing while causing injuries to 427 others.

Furthermore, the natural disasters damaged 30,655 homes and 1,419 public facilities.

The country also recorded a total of 302 forest and land fires as well as five volcanic eruptions.

The BNPB also reported non-natural disasters in the form of the COVID-19 epidemic, with the number of confirmed cases totaling 244,676.

A total of 9,553 people succumbed to COVID-19, while 177,327 recoveries were recorded since President Joko Widodo announced the country's first confirmed COVID-19 cases on March 2, 2020.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi encouraged the UN to strengthen relevance and readiness in facing global challenges while commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN).

"The world's expectations of the United Nations are increasing, to strengthen global leadership and bring real benefits to the wider community," Foreign Minister Retno said virtually on the high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN, according to a written statement from the Ministry on Tuesday.

The meeting is part of a series of the 75th UN General Assembly. Unlike the previous commemoration of the UN establishment, this year's celebration is carried out simply because the world is still hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the theme "The Future We Want, the United Nations We Need: Reaffirming Our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism", the commemoration aims to chart a path to a better world future and effective handling of global challenges.

According to Retno, the challenges of multilateral cooperation have recently been getting bigger with the increasing rivalry and unilateralism policies of a number of countries.

Foreign Minister Retno said that this cannot be tolerated, because weak countries will be increasingly marginalized.

"Without multilateralism, the strong take it all," he said.

For this reason, the Indonesian Foreign Minister offered two important things as a solution. First, the UN must have a real impact and not get caught up in rhetoric. 

In the short term, this can be reflected in efforts to ensure and facilitate access to affordable vaccines and medicines for all. In the long term, the United Nations must strive to create global economic resilience and strengthen the global health system.

Second, according to Foreign Minister Retno, the UN must remain relevant and be able to foresee future challenges. For that, the United Nations must continue to improve itself to remain efficient, adaptive, and have early detection capabilities.

The summit has also ratifies the Declaration of the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations, which contains a commitment to global concrete steps to create peace and international cooperation in various fields.

On Sep. 23 President Joko Widodo will deliver a virtual speech at the 75th General Debate at the UN Assembly Session. (Antaranews)