T

he governments of Indonesia and the US have agreed to renew a science and technology partnership to boost disaster risk reduction capacity, including disaster early warning, preparedness and mitigation.

The nations forged a partnership on disaster risk reduction after the 2004 Aceh tsunami. A five-year agreement on science and technology cooperation for natural hazard analysis, preparedness and mitigation was signed by Indonesia’s then research and technology minister and the US ambassador to Indonesia on Nov. 20, 2006.

Research and Technology Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said on Tuesday that the partnership gave more opportunities to scientists from both countries to share experiences and lessons learned from disaster response and recovery experiences.

“The partnership expires this month. As we want to continue the partnership, we will sign the second phase of the agreement,” Gusti told journalists after signing the second phase of the agreement at the ministry.

To implement the second phase of the agreement, an implementing agreement is currently being drafted by Indonesia’s Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The renewed partnership, which will last for five years, covers research on climate, oceanography, meteorology, geology, seismology, volcanology and coastal zone changes.

The agreement also covers activities relating to multi-hazard detection, analysis, warning, preparedness and mitigation to reduce risks of hazards, including tsunamis. It also aims to improve people’s resilience in dealing with hazards.

US Ambassador Scot A. Marciel said that through the agreement, the US government wanted to help Indonesia to improve its capacity both to be alert to potential disasters and to prevent damage.

“It’s our main purpose to save life and prevent huge losses in Indonesia. Every country suffers from disasters and what we are trying to do is have scientists both from Indonesia and the United States work on this,” he said.

By exchanging ideas and experiences, he said, scientists from both countries can learn from each other.

“It’s in the interests of both countries to have many different ways to learn from each other. It’s not just the US giving something to Indonesia, but working together. It’s an equal partnership which will bring benefits to both Indonesia and the US,” he added.

Several activities to be conducted under in the partnership include installing a STD II Tsunameter off Sumatra’s west coast and an Easy-to-Develop (ETD) Tsunameter south of Bali and training and capacity building.