A Lesson Learnt from ACF on Urban Community based Flood Preparedness Programme 2006

 Working with  A France NGOs, Action Contre la Faim (2006)

I graduated from the University of Indonesia on August 2005. A month or two, i received a phone call from a France NGOs, Action Contre la Faim. I got a job interview and met with a wonderful handsome guy, who was later became my supervisor and one of my closest best friend now. The interview was none like the others, it took me 3 hours just having a chat and informal discussion with Mr Edward Turvill. I was scared, anxious, and curious on how the interview went off. A few weeks later, I received an email informing that i received the job. I was lucky that year, graduated on August 2005 and received a job offer from an International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO) on December 2005. 

Mr Edward Turvill, circa 2009 a short meet up in Jakarta

My job title in ACF at that time was as Programme Assistant for Disaster Preparedness Indonesia (DPI) Department that implemented a Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) on flood risks in DKI Jakarta. Under the funding support from Disaster Preparedness European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DIPECHO), ACF worked in 3 urban villages: Kampung Melayu and Cipinang Besar Utara in East Jakarta Region, and Penjaringan in North Jakarta Region. The project was basically comprised of capacity building activities and risk assessment. 

The project was revitalized from the previous project that was implemented years before. My first assignment at that time was to assist my manager to attend a national workshop on CBDRM. The event was held in Bogor and attended by many reputable government and non-government agencies, including: Bakornas PB (Now BNPB), GIZ, ADPC, IDEP Foundation, Ministry of Home Affairs, and many others. It was my first encounter with DRR multi-stakeholder in Indonesia, and my lesson learnt in understanding the contextually of disaster management in Indonesia. It was happened in 2006. 

As part of daily work activity, I also attended several coordination meeting with the Jakarta Province and provided assistance in translating documents as well as a translator to the Program Manager. At that time, ACF was full with expatriate staff who are mostly French. Their documents as well as PC or Laptop are using French as default language. It was a new experience for me also an opportunity to learn other foreign language. Although I was hired only for 3 months period, the DPI Team later hired me to develop capacity assessment study on local community protection task force or known as Satlinmas (currently is called as BPBD). 

Working for a short contract with ACF has given me the opportunity to build my basic knowledge on DRR, also open another door in learning new subject on water, sanitation, and hygiene which later supported my next assignment with Mercy Corps in 2008-2009, and CDC Ministry of Health in 2011.

References:
1. https://adoc.pub/formalisasi-satlinmas-stpb.html
2.https://docplayer.info/32389198-Info-kegiatan-pengurangan-risiko-bencana-formalisasi-satlinmas.html
3. https://www.academia.edu/11936310/Multi_Risk_Disaster_Mapping_in_Jakarta_-_ACF

4.http://acfdpjkt-bhs.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2007-01-04T10:00:00%2B07:00&max-results=5&start=20&by-date=false

Clean Energy as part of Climate Change Adaptation

 Basic Knowledge in Energy and Climate Change

Within these few months, i have been working in the context of climate and energy sectors. As a newbie in these sectors, i simply learn that fossile fuel (oil,gas, and coal) contributes to climate change. Fact saids that they are non-renewable and currently supply around 80% of the world's energy. Following the Paris Agreement as a legally binding international treaty on climate change that was adopted by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016, it sets out a global framework to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C - emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.

The agreement also aims to help countries adapt to climate change effects, and mobilize enough finance. Under the agreement, each country must determine, plan, and regularly report on its contributions. Since 2020, countries have been submitting their national climate action plans, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs). Each successive NDC is meant to reflect an increasingly higher degree of ambition compared to the previous version. In their NDCs, countries communicate actions they will take to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in order to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement. Countries also communicate in their NDCs actions they will take to build resilience to adapt to the impacts of climate change. 

The Paris Agreement provides a framework for financial, technical and capacity building support to those countries who need it. With the Paris Agreement, countries established an enhanced transparency framework (ETF). Under ETF, starting in 2024, countries will report transparently on actions taken and progress in climate change mitigation, adaptation measures and support provided or received. It also provides for international procedures for the review of the submitted reports. The information gathered through the ETF will feed into the Global stocktake which will assess the collective progress towards the long-term climate goals.

With the sets of goals that need to be achieved, especially for 195 countries that have signed the Paris Agreement and 190 out of the have ratified it as of January 2021, therefore the pressure is on for those countries that are contributing more to the increasing of carbon emission that led to climate crisis. Based on ClimateTrade, 10 countries that produce the most emissions, measured in millions of tons of CO2 in 2019, based on higher ranking including: China, USA, India, Russia, Japan, Germany, Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. Some of these countries are now leading in clean energy race, through renewable sources such as solar, wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal, biofuels, and marines. 

As part of the global support to accelerate climate actions, Indonesia has become the world's largest recipient of environmental grants from the multilateral Global Environment Facility (GEF): More than US$100 million will be given to the Indonesian government over the next four years. Indonesia will receive the most grant funds, even higher than China, Brazil, and India due to its combination of natural wealth, biodiversity, and the threat of climate change makes Indonesia an eligible recipient. 

According to GEF, Indonesia will receive US$103 million in grants. Of this amount, US$82 million will be focused on projects related to biodiversity. The rest will be used for climate change projects (US$ 20 million), and land degradation (US$ 1.4 million). Other recipients like China will receive US$93 million, Brazil and India will receive US$79 million and US$89 million respectively.

GEF will provide the funds directly to the government, despite that GEF actually wants the organization to collaborate directly with civil society organizations (CSOs). Yet, the [grantee country] government doesn't like that idea because they concerned that if funds are given to CSOs, the funds they will get will decrease. Whilst the GEF considers the need for long-term and systematic investment in civil society. 

In overall to ensure the effectiveness of the funding, the countries should develop a comprehensive plan from national to local level. A local development planing mechanism such as Musrenbang that applies in Indonesia can accomodate the aspirations from CSOs related to the use of local indigeneous knowledge and modern technology/practices in applying clean energy policy and programme. Engagement of private sectors in clean energy and climate change also needs to be improved, such as through the application of Guideline on Private Sector Engagement in Climate Change Adaptation that published by the Indonesia Fiscal Body, can be used as a good example (https://fiskal.kemenkeu.go.id/nda_gcf/en/publications/private-sector-opportunities-in-climate-change-adaptation-projects).

Lastly, the government should consider to develops an operational joint actions plan that combines the contextualities of Disaster Risk Reduction, Biodiversity, Environmental, Climate Change, and Clean Energy, as currently these plans are developed seperately under each respective ministries or agency. 

A Journey of a Youth Volunteer to a Professional Humanitarian Worker

 A Journey of a Youth Volunteer to a Professional Humanitarian Worker

My first assignment working in the humanitarian sector responding to natural disaster events was as logistic volunteer support for a local NGOs in Jakarta, Nurani Dunia. Nurani Dunia is a local organization based in Jakarta owned by Dr Imam Prasodjo, a sociologist that has depth concerns on natural and social disasters.

It was 2004, during Boxing Day when I watch the news on TV about major tsunami waves sweeping Aceh. I never heard about tsunamis before nor been to Aceh. I knew Aceh, after hearing news about the Aceh Freedom Movement (GAM). I remember at that time, I received a phone call from Nurani Dunia, where I was working voluntarily there, asking my willingness to be part of their Emergency Response Team called Indonesia Peduli. I was on my final semester exam; without hesitation, I offered my assistance to support their response mission.

Prior to this response mission, a year before I also supported my assistance to help the victims of JW Marriot Hotel Bombing in Jakarta. However, at that time it was different. I worked as an assessor instead of a logistician. Working as a logistician for the 2004 Tsunami and Earthquake Response for Aceh and Nias gave me a first-hand experience in a more high-pressure environment. It was tiring, as I took the morning shift from early morning at 6 AM to 1 or 3 PM. It took me nearly 2 hours from my house to the main warehouse in Central Jakarta area. Meaning that at the latest I had to go out of my house around 4 AM.

In general, working as a logistician I learnt that I had to be able to do multitasking jobs. From updating the relief items database, checking the quality of the goods or donation items that were received and counting their quantities, sorting the items based on their categories, and ensuring that the goods were kept properly in the adequate spaces that were available. In particular, I had to also make sure for the specific items, such as beverages and foods have their expiring dates at least 1 month old. At that time, we considered that it will take around 1 month time for transport the goods and distribute them. There was a time when I found out that dozens of donations of UHT Milks in 1-liter cartons were near their expiration date. Nurani Dunia then decided to be given away the milk to their volunteers and communities near the warehouse.

There were a lot of donations that came in from the private sectors, such as Coca-Cola, Mandiri Bank, JW Marriot Hotel, Unilever, and others. At that time, we were lucky to have the USAID – United State Agency for Development become our main sponsorship for the response mission.  It helped us to mobilize the resource easily. Later the relief items were transported to Halim Kusuma Airport to be loaded into Hercules. The volunteers worked for hand in hand with the military personnel from Indonesia Military Force (TNI), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and Royal Air Force (RAF). It was a first-hand experience to work with different military personnel. I was also assigned to monitor the transportation of the items in Naval Command Port (Kolinlanmil) and make sure that all items were well arranged in Santa Fe Ship before shipping out to Aceh or Nias.

Although I did not get a chance to fly to Aceh or Nias during the response. Yet, I felt that in near future I will have the opportunity to work there. And it did, 4 years later, I have supported the work of Surf Aid International and United Nations Office for Recovery Coordination (UNORC) in Nias to develop the Nias DRR Strategy Plan. A few months after, my job application was accepted by the UNORC Aceh to join as its Associate for the Recovery Programme to support the acceleration of earthquake and tsunami recovery, reintegration process, and city/District development Programme. This was my first assignment working away from home. Without knowing anyone in Aceh nor having any relatives or families, I learnt to live independently and adapt to the local cultures of Aceh. I learnt that to become a professional humanitarian worker, you will need to have full dedication and commitment, as well a strong passion to work improving the communities’ life. I gratefully thank you to Nurani Dunia for giving me a chance to grow up as a volunteer to become a professional in the humanitarian sector.

From Volunteer to Community Facilitator with Nurani Dunia

My First Humanitarian Work with Nurani Dunia, 2003 -2005

A. Introduction
Before working in AHA Centre, and UNDP, most people know me for my works as a Program Assistant for Disaster Risk Reduction with UNESCO Office Jakarta. A title that I earned until last August 2018, with a short comeback as Project Assistant for Social and Human Sciences Unit that lasted on December 2018. In this agency, I have worked for 4,5 years a new track record that needs to be preserved as the longest organization I have ever worked with. Rarely people know that I actually began my career in the humanitarian sector in 2003, which was 17 years ago. I considered myself lucky because I received the honor of working as volunteer with a great and smart lecturer, the founder of the Nurani Dunia, Mr. Imam Prasodjo.

It actually began with several of my achievements and rewards that I received from the researches that were done with the research team of Criminology Laboratory of Faculty for Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) of the University of Indonesia. I stumbled with an announcement of Call for Application for Scholarship from Mandiri Bank in partnership with People to People Aid US and Nurani Dunia (https://nuranidunia.or.id/). Never did occur in my head that I can be selected as one of the recipients for the scholarship at that time. At that time, in July 2003, I was a young woman age 20 years old and still figuring out what my future would be. There were 9 people that were selected for the scholarship. They came from different universities with different backgrounds, only two candidates were selected from the University of Indonesia, which were me and the Head of FISIP Students Senate (I was also a member of the FISIP Student Senate who served in the Community Development Unit). Here and after, Nurani Dunia named us TIM-9. I only remember 3 of them, since I still contacted them a few years ago: Hamid/member or candidate legislative for Banten area, Ilah/Entrepreneur, and Asep Hambali/Activist on Museum and Heritage

Certificate of Accomplishment or recognition of my academic and social works in the university

B. Assignment as Surveyor and Assistant for JW Marriot Bom Victims
The arrangements and assignments were quite simple. Mandiri Bank provided us scholarships per month, and Nurani Dunia deducted 20% of our scholarship to be used for the operational costs for the humanitarian program that directed planned and executed by the TIM-9. At that time I initiated to develop Reproduction Health and Anti Drugs Campaign that implemented in one of the Community Based Programs of Nurani Dunia, which was the Bonang Community that was located in the Proklamasi, Central Jakarta area. Prior to the event, in August 2003, Nurani Dunia recruited some of the members of TIM-9 as Victim Surveyor and Assessor Post JW Marriot Bombing in the Kuningan area, South Jakarta (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Marriott_Hotel_bombing).  I was one of the selected surveyors that were recruited for the program.

Appreciation Letter from Mr. Jaskula, GM Marriot Hotel for our assistance in helping the victims and the family recovering 

In 2003, I would say that this was the year of the terror era in Indonesia. Despite the fact that my background is in Criminology, yet I am not too attracted to the issue of Terrorism. But then again, I got a chance, at least to understand and have a close look at the impact of this violent act. As a surveyor and assessor, my job was mainly to assist the victims of the bombing and their families. The program was supported by USAID that provides aid in the form of cash for livelihood, health insurance, and psycho-social assistance. I was assigned to assist 3 victims 67 from the bombing. I accompany them when they were in the hospital until they got out for home care and throughout the recovery and rehabilitation process. 2 of them were security guards from the hotel and a waitress who worked in the Airlangga Restaurant. I am only able to recall my memory of this particular assignment with one of the guards who was heavily injured and became paralyzed from the bombing. He was the only victim who refused the aid assistance: the victims can choose whether to receive cash or in-kind support such as scholarship or capital to start up their alternative income generation.

The guard refused to meet me during the assessment process. During the first encounter with him, he said "It was part of my job and a risk that I have to take. I don't need reward nor money, because that what I did". The statement that came from his mouth stunned me. Most of the eyewitnesses said that this man was the one who actively helps other people to evacuate. I came by his house several times and discussed it with his family. I was aware that he will not be able to work normally because of his physical limitation and injuries from the bombing. He has family and children that need to be supported, and he refused to receive aid assistance. I was thinking that this family will need longer-term assistance, so I assured him by saying "think about your family, you do not have to accept the aid for yourself, instead, accept it as a way to support your family life in the long run". He and his family members finally agreed and came out with a proposition asking for capital in kind of items to open their own basic needs shop, and requested for rehabilitation and outgoing medical treatment as part of the recovery process. Back in Nurani Dunia, people highly appreciated my works in ensuring the victim and his family, and the solution of non-cash aid in respect to the victim's will. I was so grateful to provide such alternative example for the aid asisstance. 

In October 2003, along with the other surveyors and assessors, we received an invitation from JW Marriot Hotel in Kuningan for a gathering and appreciation event. When I was stepping into the hotel, I felt frozen and scared, maybe because spending intensive time hearing the story from the victims themselves somehow has made me directly traumatized. I remember just a couple days after the bombing, I visited the scene and saw blood spatters scattered around the scene. It was a horrific view that still vividly stayed in my head. A similar fogging view appeared when I visited this hotel years after. 

Back in college, we learned about Victimology, a subject that discussed the victim perception of crimes, including PTSD (Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder). One of the mechanisms to reduce PTSD is through a support group. It was a relieve feeling knowing that the victims and their families have decided to establish this kind of support group. Later in February 2019, the victims and families were invited to meet with one of the convicted terrorists of the act in a book-launched event organized by National Agency for Anti Terror (BNPT). It was part of the reconciliation process in order for the victims and their families to understand the terrorists' perspective, and for the terrorists to understand the impact of their violent act.

I appreciate the experiences that I got from this assignment, it opened my eyes to understand the concept of deradicalization and terror act from a humanitarian perspective. I became a regular participant in every seminar, workshop, and conference that discussed the theme of Terrorism. I found myself fascinated and how easily can a person be derailed from good to become evil. I really hope that I can start to dig my professional experience in this subject and hope to have a future opportunity to work in this specific sector.

C. Reproduction Health and Anti Drugs Campaign
After the assignment for JW Marriot Victims completed, the TIM-9 began to focus on the preparation of the reproductive health and anti-HIV/AIDS campaign. I was assigned as the event coordinator for this project, I assumed either because was the youngest personal among the other member, or because of my educational background. The project basically promoting healthy life, sex education for the youth, and raising awareness of the community on the threats of drug abuse. At that time, this area has become one of the hot spots for drug trafficking. 

Later in 2005, a year after I completed my contract with Nurani Dunia, I did small research in this area as part of the study that I took on Narcotics Crime. I did a direct observation, meaning that I came to the area on regular basis, taking pictures, and interview several key persons in the area. I remember when I was handing in my assignment, the Assistant Professor, gave me C for the assignment. I complained to him because I believe I have done significant research work and put extra effort and time into it. He was furious and said to me that my assignment was not worth enough for my precious life. He was scared that I have exposed myself to a local mafia group in the research area. 

Having a bad mark on your assignment did not stop me from doing other research near that area. A few months after, I brought up the issue of prostitution in Taman Lawang for my Crime Decency assignment. Lucky enough, at that time I had a boyfriend who is a military officer stationed near the area. So, I spent few days observing the behavior of the community in the area and draw a cycle of activity in which the prostitution area is divided into three types of sex workers: the widow, the school student, and the transgender. Each of them seems to have consent on when they have to split their operating hours. The widows will provide their service in the morning, the school students in the afternoon, and the transgender in the evening. This time I got an A for this assignment, maybe because of my persistence, perhaps?. 

Let's get back to the time when I was assigned in promoting reproduction health and anti-drugs campaign. So, as an Event Coordinator, I got a lot of help and assistance from Team-9, we managed to collaborate with Mrs. Baby Jim Aditya (a psychologist who is also an HIV/AIDS activist) and also with the National Narcotics Agency or BNN. Which eventually this collaboration led to BNN's support for the establishment of Rumah Belajar Bonang through the provision of vocational training for the youth group in the area. Overall, the campaign event is a success and many of the youth groups attended it. 

The event has grown my interest in promoting anti-drugs campaigns to the local communities. As results of my engagement in the issue, I was invited to many events either as a facilitator or guest to promote a similar campaign, such as through the 1st Pilot Project of Community Policing Program that was implemented in Beji Village, Depok City, West Java Province, and when I was appointed representing the national universities' students during the International Anti-Drugs Campaign. I owe a great deal to Nurani Dunia that has provided me the opportunity to explore the other side of my crime-related interests in the Anti-Drugs Campaign.

After more than 1 or 2 years of contributing to several events related to drug-campaign, I got a chance to represent the national university students in declaring anti-drugs and met with President Yudhoyono, and the Head of BNN and Head of Indonesian Police Force, General Sutanto

I got this Plank after moderating a program launching on Community Policing hosted by the University of Indonesia, Department of Criminology

I was moderating an Anti-Drugs Campaign in my neighborhood, which was targeted for the Youth Group...but none of them were showing up in this event. I was furious and feeling failed at that time because I was the Head of the Youth Group and I should able to ensure their presence.

D. Community Empowerment and Social Conflict Management
As a follow-up from the Reproduction Health and Anti-Drugs Campaign, Nurani Dunia through one of their staff asked me to make a draft of concept note for the establishment of a Community Centre in the Bonang-Tambak area, targeting the youth group. My concept note was pretty simple, providing the youth with knowledge sharing, and counseling service for their problems, and provide simple solutions on how they can plan their future better. Until now, I am not really sure whether they used and applied my concept note to the project, but in 2003, Nurani Dunia launched Rumah Belajar or Community Learning Centre with the support from General Electrics Fund. A few years later BNN also contributed to providing vocational training for the youth groups from this area. 

When you have a Community Learning Centre, you will need some human resources to run it, so lucky me that Nurani Dunia contacted me and asked me to support the Centre by teaching English Course for elementary students during the weekend. This was my 1st experience teaching children. When most of the young women my age spending their weekends with the boyfriends or besties, I spent my time teaching the children.  Yet again, my experience in this Centre I adopted in my project with Mercy Corps in 2008-2009 as part of intervention for Jakarta Flood Risk Reduction. Huge thanks again for the Nurani Dunia in taking me in to be their community facilitator.

Very unfortunate that I do not keep my pictures for this program. However, I put some links that mentioned Rumah Belajar Bonang as an endnote. 

E. Emergency Response Earthquake and Tsunami Aceh and Nias
In 2004, ending the year, a huge tsunami and major earthquake struck Aceh and Nias. I remember at that time I heard the news from the TV Broadcasting. I was at my Aunt's house and called my ex-boyfriend at that time of the event because he is an Acehnese. At the same time, one of the Student Regiment (MENWA UI) alumni that was a post on Aceh, also lost contact and everybody was busy looking for the info on the impact of this catastrophe. Nobodies realized that the events resulted in devastating loss and damages. I remember receiving a call from Nurani Dunia, inviting Team-9 to be part of their Response Team. Only a few of us were available at that time. Nurani Dunia began to set up a warehouse in a car showroom near their office, and I remember that once it was set up, a lot of donations were flowing in. from Coca-Cola, USAID, JW Marriot Hotel, and others. To appreciate all partners that have contributed to the response, Nurani Dunia decided to name their response team as Indonesia Peduli. 

I was on my final semester exam when I decided to take part in supporting the Logistics Team. I divided my time between college and response, in which I was taking the duty hours from early morning to afternoon. I was assigned to support the manage the warehouse with the other volunteers. this includes: documenting the relief items that were in and out of the warehouse, quality checking of the items (expiration date, packaging, etc), and transporting the relief items to Air Base Halim Perdana Kusuma, and Naval Base Kolinlamil Priok. I remember when I assisted the team in moving the items to the trucks and went to the Air Base, we had to wait hours to register our relief items and queue for any Hercules from foreign military forces able to carry these items. At that time I worked with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and US Air Force both in the warehouse of the Air Base and during the transporting to their aircraft, Hercules. I even got the chance to test drive the ambulances that Indonesia Peduli donated for Aceh. 

Several things that I remember for my 1st response mission were: 1) the foreign military forces were very professional, they worked pretty fast and timely, without their faces looking tired or exhausted (we spent hours picking and moving the items by our bare hands, so definitely was a labor job), 2) Nurani Dunia worked in multi-stakeholder partnership platform, and show high appreciation and recognize their partner contributions well, 3) Volunteers are not paid, yet they were treated well and professionally, 4)  The standard quality for the items that were going to be distributed (branded used clothes, imported tea bags, UHT Milk, and ready meals from the partner hotel for their medical volunteers that based in Aceh) were high, 4) Having extended network in Jakarta, Aceh, and Nias bases with regular communications ensure the response mission went well.

F. Closure and Recommendation for the New Volunteer or Newbie in Disaster Management

I will end my story here on my first experience ever working with a humanitarian organization. Yet, you will find my collaboration with Nurani Dunia in another story, as I am always fond of their works. for those newbies, I will leave you with some recommendations or tips on how you can make or leave your marks.

1. Working as volunteer means that you work freely and do not get pay (in most cases), so you really need to enjoy and have passion for the tasks that are delegated to you.

2. Take the opportunity to make use of the networks that you get, you will use them in your next path. It will also help your work in the future.

3. Use your ears, eyes, and mouth and be active. This means that try to listen to what the organization shares with you, observe how they do their works, and do not hesitate to provide your feedback or inputs, as long it is relevant.

4. Maintain a good relationship and communicate with your previous organization once a while, why? because they will help you to give you a good reference for your next professional job, and there will always a room to come back once you fall.

5. Respect and maintain the good image of the organization. Even if you disappointed or angry or sad because the organization did not give you enough respect or recognition, never disgrace their names in public. Take your experience as part of a lesson learned in life. 

I hope this story can encourage young people out there to start building their interest and passion in humanitarian works. We need to spread more kindness and positive acts for better, stronger, and resilient communities.

                                                                -  E N D -

Reference Readings

https://anangiskandar.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/kampung-bonang-menteng-jaya-jakarta-pusat/

https://m.liputan6.com/news/read/549929/cegah-narkoba-bnn-bantu-30-komunitas-kampung-bonang

https://dedipanigoro.blogspot.com/2009/11/imam-b-prasodjo-menteri-sosial-ri.html?m=1

http://www.cerita-astri.com/2014/03/kampung-bonang-1-pesona-bekas-kampung.html?m=1 

https://www.kompasiana.com/megibudis/54f82a7ba33311cf5d8b4722/sejarah-singkat-rumah-belajar-kreatif 

Tsunami Sunda Strait 2018

Responding to Tsunami Sunda Strait: Volunteering Service of DRT MENWA UI

Background

When I heard about the news on the tsunami that hit the Sunda Strait, I was completing my final assignment with UNESCO for the Haze Project in Riau under the Malaysia funds in Trust (MFIT) with the Social and Human Sciences (SHS) Unit. Honestly, I could not get rid the thought out of my head to take part in the response, the main reason is that one of the affected areas, Pandeglang, was one of my project site in 2014-2016 when I was working for the Project in Building Model for Tsunami Preparedness: Capacity Building for Schools and Communities under the support of Indonesia Funds in Trust (IFIT) with Disaster Risk Reduction and Tsunami Information Unit  (DRRTIU) of UNESCO Office Jakarta in partnership with LIPI and BMKG, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-X5lfWkb_U. I finally responded to the situation on 28 December to 30 December 2018, 5 days after the tsunami that happened on 23 December 2018.

Small Response and Learning Big
The response was not a big scale or major operation, it was more as monitoring and distributed small aid from personal donations, such as solar panel, rice, mung bean, baby bed set, drinking water, and a hygiene kit. My senior colleague in the World Bank was also helping hand collecting donations in the form of the Solar Home Family System.

As part of transferring knowledge and experience, I brought 2 of my juniors from the Student Regiment of the University of Indonesia (Menwa UI) to join the mission and my partner as our driver. We then joined with the team from Samson Tiara which is my partner's office or training center that works in the safety and survival offshore training sector. We connected with several agencies during the response, such as Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC), Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries, and Ministry of Environmental and Forestry. A brief note of our journey is summarized below.

28 December 2018

In our first day of the mission, we visited the MDMD Response Post that is based in Labuan Sub-district, Pandeglang, Banten province. We delivered our donation, which is the Solar Home Family System. This solar system was given and used by the IDPs Camp in Lampung, which was located on the outer island and the area was also affected by the tsunami. 

We also spent some time visiting the Labuan Evacuation Shelter or TES which was not completed constructed. Rumor has it, that the construction was stopped due to corruption issues (https://regional.kompas.com/read/2018/12/28/22193761/shelter-tsunami-labuan-dibangun-tapi-tidak-berfungsi-karena-korupsi?page=all).

This Temporary Shelter or known as Labuan TES is an eight-story heigh with ramp access. Yet, the only space that is available to be used by the IDPs is in the top floor. However, the condition in this floor is poor of lighting and only 2 toilets that are available. Not much people aware and know the function of this site. As far as  I remember when I visited this place in 2015 when it was completed constructed, people around the areas did not know the function of this building when we asked them randomly. As it is abandoned, this site is now being used for drug transaction and sex. 

Same construction or even worse can also be found in TES Pemenang in Lombok, NTB Province that is badly damaged due to 2018 earthquake (https://www.suarantb.com/gedung-evakuasi-bencana-klu-diduga-gagal-konstruksi/). 

Similar condition also found in TES Kampung Melayu in Bengkulu (https://www.radarbengkuluonline.com/2018/12/09/mubazir-gedung-shelter-tsunami-tidak-terawat/)

The Ministry of Public Works (PUPR) is the authorized agency that built the TES. in 2014-2015, there were several TESs that were constructed, include the three TESs above and the others that are located in: Koto Tangah 1-Padang, Sumatera Barat; Ilir Talo-Seluma, Bengkulu; Wanasalam-Lebak, Banten; Peukan Bada-Aceh Besar, Aceh; Serangan-Denpasar, Bali; Padang Utara-Kota Padang, Sumatera Barat; Srandakan-Bantul, Yogyakarta, and; Pangandaran, Jawa Barat (https://properti.kompas.com/read/2019/01/15/223000221/seberapa-penting-tempat-evakuasi-sementara-saat-tsunami-?page=all).

The designs of each of this TES are different, yet it is important to ensure that the construction should withstand to strong currents and multi waves. The PUPR has published the guideline for this construction (http://sni.litbang.pu.go.id/image/sni/isi/06prtm2009.pdf) and there are also plenty of reference that can also be used, for instance from the FEMA on the construction of evacuation sites or shelter.

https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1564165488078-09ab4aac641f77fe7b7dd30bad21526b/Planning_Considerations_Evacuation_and_Shelter-in-Place.pdf

https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1719-25045-1822/fema_p646a.pdf

https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1564165488078-09ab4aac641f77fe7b7dd30bad21526b/Planning_Considerations_Evacuation_and_Shelter-in-Place.pdf

The main problem is not just to ensure the quality of the building, also to educate the people to use the TES in maximum, for instance to use it as community meeting points, youth center, etc during normal situation.

After the tsunami 2018, Later in 2019, the BNPB used this building for Tsunami Evacuation simulation (https://twitter.com/BNPB_Indonesia/status/1161538929365082112/photo/3).

From the TES Labuan, we continued our journey to Fish Market or TPI nearby. The reason was because of the Tsunami Sirene that is located here. Also in this area, there are many government offices that are affected, include the Office of Marine and Fisheries (KKP), the Search and Rescue Office, as well as naval Base. In KKP Labuan, we met with Mr.Dede, an official staff who happened was on duty at this time. He shared his story about the sirene was not working during the tsunami events, he also mentioned that the Tsunami Sirene is owned by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) despite the fact that is constructed in KKP area. He later then admitted that the KKP staff do not have the knowledge of how this sirene worked and that the coordination between both agencies is weak. 

The KKP office happened to own a warehouse that was being functioned as a storage room to keep the relief item donations. We donated several instant foods, such as infant bedding sets, rice cake, and mung bean porridge. we ended our first day of mission and decided to crash in at my partner's training center office as there was no available accommodation or safe haven near the areas.

 

29 December 2018

Samson Tiara is a multinational safety and survival offshore training center that is well known by the public (see http://www.samson-tiara.co.id/). We were lucky to have the chance to join their staff on the second day of our mission. Nine of us: Nanda Alfiyandi and Ade Putra from MENWA UI, me, my husband, and Pak Dedi, Mas Angga, Mba Risma, Mas Ipul, and his wife.

Nine of us in three cars were heading to the KKP Post to distribute the blankets, slippers, hygiene kit, mattress, clothes, and foods from the Samson Tiaras staff. While from us, we donated a Solar Home Family System. The KKP staff were astonished by the Solar System as we demonstrated to their technical staff on how to use the system.

 

As a form of their appreciation, the KKP staff took us for a tour around the complex and explained to us the chronology of the tsunami event that was recorded by the CCTV in their backyard. The tsunami waves managed to wash the 1-2 meters of the wave breaker in this backyard.

After ending our discussion and tour at KKP Post, we were heading to the IDPs Camp Site in Perhutani Office which is located in the uphill of the hiking trail in Sanggrahan. There were around 1,007 IDPs that stayed in this site, most of them are women and children. We donated mineral water and hygiene kits. We had a chance to look around the site a bit before ending our mission and heading back to Depok.

The Tsunami Early Warning System in Sunda Strait

Adding to this page, i remembered back then in 2014, I wrote a short summary from my mission to Pandeglang about the Tsunami Early Warning System (TEWS) that focus on the 4 elements of the Early Warning System, which are: Monitoring and Warning Device, Risk Information, Dissemination and Communication, and Response Capability (see https://www.unisdr.org/2006/ppew/whats-ew/basics-ew.htm), i managed to dig old file and found this brief paper as enclosed. 

The Chronology of Tsunami Sunda Strait

As it would take longer pages to explain the historical and chronology of the Tsunami Sunda Strait, I would recommend you to visit the U-INSPIRE (Youth and Young Professionals on SETI in DRR) webpage to find a more comprehensive fact sheet on the tsunami event (see https://uinspire.id/factsheets/). The practitioners and professionals from U-INSPIRE, including myself developed this Tsunami Sunda Strait fact sheet to help the people to understand more about tsunami and future preparedness.

Future Preparedness for Pandeglang

It is very important for the Banten Province to start taking seriously in developing their Tsunami Preparedness Program. As Pandeglang is one of the famous beach tourism sites, the needs to educate and strengthen tourism resilience against tsunami as well as another type of specific disaster, include volcano eruption is vital. An example from UNESCO-IOC tsunami readiness indicators can be used as a measurement to develop such a program. For more information about this kindly visit the UNESCO IOC and IOTIC websites at https://iotic.ioc-unesco.org/ and http://www.ioc-tsunami.org/. Side note, I was also supporting the IOTIC during my assignment with UNESCO and contributed to developing some of their products and activities. 

A good example can be seen from the  ITDC (Indonesia Tourism Development Centre) in Badung, Bali that can be adopted in Pandeglang areas, Banten Province (see https://itdc.co.id/press-release/itdc-pedomani-tata-bangunan-dan-lingkungan-untuk-kembangkan-kek-mandalika-20191220064946). A good reference can also be taken as an example,  from the Tsunami Kit that is developed  by the GiZ (previously known as GTZ, see https://www.gitews.org/tsunami-kit/id/id_tsunami_evacuation_map_badung.html).

As for the wider public, the needs and urgency to access information and monitoring of disasters and risk are also crucial. Indonesia is a good example of this matter. As it has developed multi-platform of disaster media information that can be accessed by the public.

Recommendation

In the end, by taking the lesson learned from the Tsunami Sunda Strait, the following key actions must be taken as part of the priority to build preparedness against future disaster(s).

1. To strengthen the Tourism Disaster Preparedness through Tourism Village Program (DEWI)

2. To improve the end to end early warning system

3. To integrated the tsunami  readiness or disaster preparedness indicators into development planning

4. To work with the academia and practitioners to improve and update the science aspect of DRR and combine it with the local knowledge

5. To improve multi-stakeholder engagement, partnership, and collaboration by using the existing platform such as DRR Forum or Local DRR Platform

6. To strengthen the Village Disaster Preparedness Program (DESTANA) and 

Appreciation Note: 

Thank you to Nanda, Ade, Samson Tiara Staff, MDMC, KKP,  my partner: Jimmy Poncho Majabubun, and Pak Iwan Gunawan for all the supports for this small response mission!.

Strengthening Recovery and Tourism Readiness Towards Disaster

Recovery of Tourism Sector Post Disaster:  

A Lesson Learnt from Lombok Tourism Post EQ 2018

Disaster Vulnerability of Indonesia Tourism Sites

Lombok Island has been named the Best Halal Tourist Destination on the 2019 Indonesia Muslim Travel Index (IMTI). Tourism is one of the strategic sectors in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), besides agriculture, and trade and commerce. Several of its renowned tourism sites, are Mount Rinjani, Kuta Mandalika, Three Gili Islands, and Mount Tambora. Following the earthquake that hit the island in 2018 on 5 July 2018 (Magnitude 6,4), 5 August 2018 (Magnitude 7,00), and 19 August 2018 (Magnitude 6,9) has caused disruption to these sectors, which particularly affected the tourism sector at most.

Responding to the catastrophes and following the ending of the response phase, as per 31 December 2019 the Government of West Nusa Tenggara Province (NTB) declared the fifth extension of the transition phase of Earthquake Recovery until 31 March 2020. The declaration issued by the Governor of NTB Province following the request from the NTB Province Disaster Management Agency (BPBD NTB) due to remaining constructions works on the housing sector, in which there are 43,972 houses that are still on the progress of reconstruction. The housing construction works are using the On-Call Budget (DSP) which can no longer be used once the transition phase is over. Besides housing, there are still four other sectors that have become priority attention of the Government of NTB which are outlined in their Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Plan (R3), which are: public infrastructure, social, productive economic, and multi-sector. 

Beside Lombok, there are many other regions in Indonesia that also were badly affected by disasters, such as: Aceh which hit by major earthquake and tsunami in 2004 and have multiple earthquake episodes since then, and Bali that is well recognized as one of global tourism destination also severed from the eruption of Mount Agung in 2017

The Impact of Earthquake on Productive Economic Sector of Tourism

Among the affected sectors above, tourism is one of the productive economic sectors that is significantly impacted by the decline of the economic growth in Lombok post-earthquake. The main reason is because of the decreasing of tourists visit to Lombok. According to the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Plan (Rencana Rehabilitasi dan Rekonstruksi/R3) that is developed by the seven earthquake-affected regencies, only five of them that are explicitly mentioned about the impact from earthquake to tourism, as summarized below.

1. Lombok Barat/West Lombok Regency

The earthquake is reported to cause damages in the tourism sub-sector in sum IDR  24,873,440,000 and loss around IDR 55,129,985,000 which the total value of impact from the earthquake reached  IDR 80,003,425, 000. The greatest impact came from the decreasing of tourists stay/occupation in the hotels and other accommodation in sum PIDR 76,248,225,000

2. Lombok Tengah/Centra Lombok Regency

This regency does not report any damages, yet, the loss from the tourism sub-sector reached IDR 16,975,000,000 due to decreasing of tourists visit in the tourism sites down to 16,158 persons (94,63%) compare to the tourist visit on August 2017

3. Lombok Timur/East Lombok Regency

The 2018 earthquake has reduced the number of tourist visits, local and international. Although it did not affect the tourism sector directly, however, a lot of damages happened on the facilities of Rinjani National Park (TNGR).  These damages were estimated reached around IDR 943.600.000,-, with total loss worth for IDR 22.912.766.500,-, The impact of EQ has affected financially in the sum of IDR 1.173.840.000,-

4. Lombok Utara/North Lombok Regency

The values of damages and loss from the 2018 Earthquake in the tourism sector and its supporting sectors reached  66,17% as it is also affected the trade and small and medium scale enterprises sectors with total recovery needs up to IDR 421,500,000,-

5. Mataram/Mataram City 

The affected tourism sector is mostly on building damages that worth up to  IDR 20.027.040.000 and caused the loss of tourism activities worth for  IDR Rp.189.000.000. The total recovery needs is in the sum of IDR 12.273.599.539

6. Sumbawa/Sumbawa Regency

The R3 does not report any damages nor loss in Sub-Sector of Tourism

7. Sumbawa Barat/West Sumbawa Regency

The R3 does not report any damages nor loss in the Sub-Sector of Tourism

The NTB Province Tourism Office admitted that the office is lack of budget in recovering the tourism facilities or even revitalize the tourism sites. The available budget can only be used to promote the non-affected tourism sites, such as for Kuta Mandalika, Selong Belanak, and Village Tourism Program. According to the Ministry of Tourism during the Coordination Meeting for the Acceleration of Tourism Normalization Post NTB EQ on September 2018, the estimated loss from the sector has reached 100 million USD[1]. More specifically, a study on the value chain of the tourism sector in Rinjani areas in East Lombok that was done by UNDP and Gema Alam, show significant loss of income on the Geopark Mount of Rinjani Tourism that reached 400 trillion IDR in the period of July 2018 to August 2019. The community that relied on their livelihood from tourism has to find alternative income from agriculture and trading. The earthquake not just impacted to the decreasing number of tourists visit who was afraid, but also greater damages on the tourism infrastructure across the Geopark Mount of Rinjani that are abandoned.

On 14 June 2019, having realized the needs to recover the community livelihood and reinvigorate the Geopark Mount of Rinjani Tourism, the Government of NTB opened the hiking trail and tracking route in North, Central, and East of Lombok. Yet at this time, the hikers and trackers can only reach the Pelawangan area, due to safety reasons and damages on the facilities above the mountain that has not been repaired. Unfortunately, on 20 October 2019, due to extreme weather, the forests in Rinjani burnt out and left damaged on the 6,055 hectares of the area[2]. Hundreds of hikers were evacuated and once again Geopark Mount of Rinjani is closed for tourism.

The Geopark Mount of Rinjani is not the only site that attracts the tourists, Lombok also has several beaches renowned for their views. Yet, not all beaches are safe for swimming or recreation. The tourists must be extra cautious about any threat of tidal waves. Recent incidents have taken the lives of tourists in Senggigi, Surga, and Ketapak Beaches where they drowned after swept by the wave. Nevertheless, the safety of the tourists is not just the responsibility of the tourists themselves or the tour guides. It becomes the responsibility of the communities in the tourism site or even every one that is on the spots as well.

The Crisis Management on Tourism Towards Disaster

The case in NTB can also be found in other tourism destination sites across Indonesia, with different threats and setting. The Ministry of Tourism responded to the situation by declaring the Regulation Number 10 the Year 2019 on Tourism Crisis Management which is complimentary with the Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) on the Activism of Tourism Crisis Centre (TCC). The regulation explicitly mentions the framework in managing the tourism crisis, which includes: preparedness and mitigation, emergency response, recovery, and normalization. The regulation also regulates the establishment of TCC at national and province levels, under the Ministry and Head of Tourism Office. As a pilot or model for the implementation of this policy is rolled out in three areas tourism destination areas, which are: Riau, West Java, and NTB. The socialization of this regulation in NTB itself has been conducted in Mataram on 19 September 2019.

The NTB Province Government, through Culture and Tourism Office (DISBUDPAR) took a positive response on this policy by preparing the implementation of this project and outlined its targets, include: 1) reducing the impact of disaster, 2) inventory and managing the tourism amenities, 3) inventory and managing the tourism attractions, 4) recovery image through tourism promotion, 5) renovation of amenities and tourist attractions that affected by disasters, 6) development of free taxation for 1 year for the tourism industries, 7) facilitating and monitoring the soft loan for the recovery of tourism amenities and 8) conducting tourism training in improving the quality of tourism human resources in disaster-affected areas.

While in the context of recovery, the NTB DISBUDPAR emphasizes in recovering the tourism sector focusing on human resources and industries, destinations, and marketing. One of the examples of this tourism, recovery is by developing a Recovery Strategy for Affected Tourism Sites. The Recovery Strategy would include the establishment of a tourism recovery team under the NTB Governor, meetings with the General Managers of the hotel in the tourism sites, inventory of damages, problems, and available proper accommodation, recovery of national news on the evacuation process, recovery in promoting the tourism sites, renovation of tourism facilities, and development of post-disaster proposals.

Promotion of Tourism Recovery in Lombok

Beside the program and regulation above, the NTB Province Government also develops a Village Tourism Program in 99 villages starting this year until 2023. The Village Tourism is a concept of rural areas development that offers the natural the setting of the social-economic, social-culture, tradition, custom, building architect and village spatial, economic uniqueness and attraction that has the potential to be developed into various tourisms spots, such as: attraction, accommodation, food courts, and other tourism needs[3]. This program is also one of the NTB Province Government’s strategies in eliminating poverty.

Despite, the fact that the program and policy on tourism crisis management have been applied in NTB, yet the coordination between inter-government agencies at province and municipality levels need to be improved. Tourism crisis management is not just a mandate of the DISPARBUD, it is also involved the role of multi-stakeholder, include a) Disaster Management Office (BPBD) – to raise awareness and tourism preparedness in disaster, b)  Search and Rescue Office (BASARDA) and Local Police Station (POLRES) – to outline the standard safety and security for tourism travels, c) Office for Environmental and Forestry (DLHK) – for environmental protection and tourism green awareness, d) Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) Mataram Station to implement early warning system on disasters,  e) Village Community Empowerment and Government Office (DPMPD) – to develop a community-based program focusing on empowerment and village resource management for tourism, f) Health Bureau – to promote hygiene, clean water, and sanitation as part of tourism health promotion, and many other agencies with their own specific role and task contributing to tourism management.

Furthermore, The government of NTB is targeting to reach 4,5 million tourists in 2020. In order to reach this number, the Vice Governor of NTB Province, Mrs. Siti Rohmi advised the key success in the tourism sector is by ensuring the Safety, Convenient, Cleanliness, and Hospitality of the communities in NTB[4]. The communities have a front and significant role in improving the tourism sector, not just as beneficiaries, but also as actors. The Government of NTB also needs to improve the communities’ skills and knowledge, as well as strengthen their capacity through creative tourism professions, such as tour guides, local accommodation providers, tourism package services, and others.

In overall, the recovery of the tourism sector in NTB Province needs to be supported not just with the policy and regulation but also involving stakeholder engagement and community ownership. A Tourism Disaster Preparedness Program, such as Tsunami and Earthquake Readiness in Bali can be taken as an example to be implemented by the Government of NTB. With the progressive development in tourism, I strongly believe that NTB can achieve its 4,5 million tourists target, even become one of the world's best tourism destinations.

Note:

For some  information about Lombok Tourism Sites, kindly visit my personal blog in: 

Lombok Utara

http://familygateway.blogspot.com/2020/01/bale-jukung-tropical-hut-cafe-in-lombok.html 

Lombok Barat

http://familygateway.blogspot.com/2019/11/a-business-and-pleasure-trip-to-senggigi.html 

http://familygateway.blogspot.com/2019/09/lombok-halal-tourism-destination.html 

Lombok Utara

http://familygateway.blogspot.com/2019/07/saifana-organic-farm-oasis-in-dry-land.html 

http://yuniarti4drr.blogspot.com/2019/06/chocolate-factory-in-small-village.html  

[1] https://travel.detik.com/travel-news/d-4214277/dampak-gempa-lombok-sektor-pariwisata-alami-kerugian-besar

[2] https://nasional.tempo.co/read/1263018/hari-keempat-kebakaran-gunung-rinjani-seluas-6-000-hektar

[3] http://puspijak.org/uploads/info/v2n1-4DsOt.pdf

[4] Rakor Pariwisata Daerah 2019 dan Sinkronisasi Program Kepariwisataan, 9 October 219