An official checks weather observation equipment at the maritime meteorology station at Tanjung Mas, Semarang, Central Java, on Wednesday (8/2). The Tanjung Mas maritime meteorology station has warned of the possibility of 1.5-2.5-meter high waves occurring next week in the Java Sea.
High waves in Indonesian waters over the past few days have begun to die down for the time being, but vigilance is still needed for our safety.
Weather conditions have been abnormal lately, with the air pressure being unusually high in the north and very low in the south. This has resulted in an aggressive flow of air to the south, which in turn has led to heavy rains and strong winds across Indonesian territory, from the southern part of Central Java via East Java all to way to Nusa Tenggara.
The weather anomaly also triggered high waves in various Indonesian waters for the last two to three days. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) warns that waves of up to 4 meters may still occur until next week in some waters, including the southern part of the Sunda Strait, the waters south of Java to Rote Islandas well as in the southern parts of the Bali Strait and the Lombok Strait.
History has taught wise men to read the weather and climate from signs of nature: the position of the moon, stars and sun, the wind direction, leaf drops as well as changes in animal behavior. However, such local wisdom,which has supported our lives for centuries, has been slammed by global warming. The reaction of nature has changed, making it less predictable from a local perspective, and here is a dilemma.
Information provided by the central government does not yet reach all communities that need it. There are more than 10,000 coastal villages scattered around 300 regencies and cities of Indonesia. The people in these areas are the ones who have to deal with the impacts of extreme weather on their lives: from transportation and the supply of basic commodities to catching fishout at sea.
It is a challenge for the government to show presenceby helping coastal communities. The law on the protection and empowerment of fishermen, fish farmers and salt farmers, which was enacted in 2016, could become the basis for empowering coastal communities, where poverty mostlystems from limitedaccess to information, technology, capital, infrastructureand resources.
We are grateful that Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has sought various ways to empower fishermen and, more broadly, coastal communities. However, these measures need to be followed up by other relevant ministries to ensure the availability of nine basic commodities, fuel and improvement in various institutional aspects. That way, people can be prepared to face the weather, no matter how extreme. It is not easy, because it has budgetary implications, but that in itself is evidence that the state is present, is it not?
