Aceh prepared to organize IOWave 2009
The Province of Aceh is prepared to host the Indian Ocean Wave 2009 on October 14, 2009.
“Up to this stage, we have prepared to organize IOWave 2009, we have done 75 %,” said the Aceh Governor’s Advisor Usman Budiman after leading Coordination Meeting on Aceh Public Awareness, in Banda Aceh on Monday.
IOWave 2009 in the test of Early Warning System of Indian Ocean countries to anticipate and reduce international disaster risk as stipulated by Honorary Council of the United Nation (UN).
More 20 national and local institutions, Local and International NGOsare involved in a national team to facilitate IOWave 2009.
Preparation by the Government of Aceh to organize this event includes designing “Standard Operation Procedure” (SOP) about emergency operation coordination and disaster preparedness plan up to village level.
Tsunami Early Warning System Infrastructure has also been installed at several points in Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar.
”Now we only have to prepare the scenario for the event. When scenario is there, we can proceed with other activities such as improving communication among provinces and districts/cities,” he added.
Before the day of the event two stages are essential to perform, the first rehearsal to inspect the preparation of Pusdalops as the main leader and general rehearsal a week before the day of the event.
IOWave 2009 is aimed at motivating 28 country members around Indian Ocean to examine their operational systems which are different among the countries, evaluating warning message dissemination by stakeholder institutions.
This event is also to motivate the government of these countries to examine their own response procedures.
