Over
the past year, the people of Indonesia have endured a series
of unrelenting catastrophes. The Yogyakarta earthquake on May
27, the earthquake and tsunami in southern Java on July 27 and
a string of tremors from Sulawasi to Sumatra all offer signs
of continued tectonic activity.
In the northern province of Aceh, where the earthquake and tsunami
of December 2004 unleashed massive destruction, disaster management
teams from the Indonesian Red Cross Society (Palang Merah Indonesia,
PMI) and the American Red Cross are leading the way in equipping
and training communities to respond to future disasters, as
part of the tsunami recovery programme.
“Disasters like landslides, earthquakes and even tsunamis
are happening very frequently, not only in Aceh, but in all
parts of Indonesia.” said M.A. Halim, disaster management
expert for the American Red Cross in Aceh. “Many people
in Indonesia have not received training in disaster awareness
and preparedness, so their lives are at risk.”
Red Cross Red Crescent partners – National Societies and
the International Federation - have teamed-up in Aceh to support
PMI in a multi-faceted risk reduction programme to help raise
awareness of disasters among vulnerable communities. These efforts
include utilizing early warning systems, strengthening PMI’s
capacity in preparedness activities, and implementing the Integrated
Community-Based Risk Reduction Programme (ICBRR).
A proven method of disaster management, the ICBRR was refined
and adapted for use in Aceh by American Red Cross disaster management
experts. Building on PMI’s existing disaster preparedness
programmes, new strategies such as ICBRR offer an expanded and
integrated approach to community-based disaster management.
“When we designed the programme, we worked together with
PMI, Red Cross Red Crescent partners, teachers, community members,
and local governments. Everyone realized that this type of integrated
approach is necessary to make the programme sustainable,”
said Saidur Rahman, an American Red Cross disaster management
expert in Indonesia.
Recently, thirty PMI volunteers from Aceh took part in a five-day
ICBRR course designed by the American Red Cross and PMI. Participants
learned fundamental disaster management practices and community-engagement
methodologies, and they put their new skills to work through
field exercises and community discussions.
“Already, we found there is enthusiasm in the communities
for preparedness programmes,” said Ansari Muhammed, an
ICBRR participant and PMI volunteer from Aceh Besar. “The
American Red Cross and PMI have an incredible relationship that
is helping to make trainings like the ICBRR possible.”
After completing their training, PMI volunteers, like Muhammed,
will help facilitate the formation and equipment of Community
Disaster Management Committees in targeted villages. These committees,
composed of local residents, will collaborate with PMI to prepare
their villages for disasters through activities like mapping
potential hazards, creating evacuation plans, mobilizing local
resources, and leading preparedness activities in schools.
PMI and the American Red Cross will also assist targeted communities
in creating local rapid response teams to maintain an early
warning system radio network and other tools in emergency disaster
response.
As its disaster management programmes will grow exponentially
in the coming months, the American Red Cross is supporting PMI
in leading disaster preparedness activities in 150 villages
throughout Aceh province, aimed to benefit more than 200,000
people.
“Indonesians trust PMI and its Red Cross partners, so
through PMI we can empower communities to be ready,” said
Muhammed. “There will be another disaster in Aceh, and
we need to be prepared.”
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Saidur
Rahman, an American Red Cross disaster management expert
in Indonesia, monitors students during a field activity
as part of recent Integrated Community-Based Risk Reduction
Programme training in Aceh. (p14892)
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Volunteers
with the Indonesian Red Cross Society (Palang Merah Indonesia,
PMI) participate in Integrated Community-Based Risk Reduction
Programme training in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. (p14893)
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Integrated
Community-Based Risk Reduction Programme trainees work
with a community member in Tibang village to create a
visual map of their community and potential risks. (p14894)
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