The Ministry of Finance will make up to Rp 700 billion ($48 million) in additional funding available for relief efforts in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, amid calls on the government to declare a national disaster following the recent spate of deadly earthquakes.
Lombok has been struck by several tremors since July 29, including two magnitude-6.9 quakes on Aug. 4 and Aug. 20 and more than 540 aftershocks. At least 440 people have died and more than 350,000 have been displaced.
“The BNPB [National Disaster Mitigation Agency] has submitted its proposal for on-call additional funds this week. It seems primarily for housing and we are currently reviewing it,” Askolani, director general of budgeting at the Ministry of Finance, said.
The agency said last week that losses from the earthquake would likely exceed Rp 5 trillion, most of which from the damaged housing.
Askolani said Rp 100.4 trillion has been allocated for unexpected expenditure, such as natural disasters, in this year’s general treasurer’s budget.
The BNPB received Rp 700 billion earlier this year, some of which has been spent in Lombok.
Several lawmakers in the House of Representatives have urged the government to declare the Lombok earthquake a national disaster, which would enhance disaster management efforts, according to Lalu Gede Syamsul Mujahidin of the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura).
“The West Nusa Tenggara provincial government does not have adequate finances to address the rehabilitation process after this earthquake,” the lawmaker said last week, as quoted by Suara Pembaruan.
But the central government has so far refused to declare a national disaster for fear that it may negatively impact the tourism industry, not only in Lombok but also in neighboring Bali.
“If we declare a national disaster [in Lombok], it means the disaster is in entire Indonesia and it will cause other countries to issue travel warnings, not only for Lombok, but also Bali. The impact will be extraordinary,” Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said, as reported by Beritasatu.
Bali is Indonesia’s most popular tourist destination, accounting for over 5 million of last year’s 14 million foreign visitors.
Original source: Jakarta Globe
Published on 21 August 2018
