REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- An official of the Ministry of Social Affairs has said he hopes disaster drills will be included in school curriculum to enhance awareness of disaster handling among children.
"We need to increase awareness about facing and handling disasters not only among adults but also young children," Margo Wiyono, Director for Social Protection of Disaster Victims of the Ministry of Social Affairs, said here on Friday.
He said it was important to enhance disaster awareness in children so that they could take precautions for their own safety.
Such awareness is possible only if it is carried out continuously, for instance, through a school curriculum, he added.
"We are ready to give lessons as well if requested, based on our main tasks and functions, such as logistics," Margo said.
He added that, so far, efforts to increase awareness about disasters had been undertaken by the Ministry of Social Affairs in the form of creating a disaster management village (KSB) in almost all regions.
The presence of KSB in various regions is expected to increase local awareness, especially since KSB specializes in dealing with disasters.
"No matter what, we should be prepared to face a disaster because we live in a disaster-prone area. At least we should know how to minimize the impact of disasters and reduce the loss of lives," he added.