JAYAPURA, PAPUA —The province of Papua as the easternmost region of Indonesia has the potential for geological disasters that are quite vulnerable. Earthquakes, landslides, and floods often occur in almost all districts in Papua Province. The activity of the Indo-Australian plate in the south and the Pacific plate in the north-northeast causes Papua Island in general to always be vulnerable to tectonic shifts.
In the 2021 Disaster Risk Index (IRBI) report, the Jayapura, Papua region ranked 10th as the region with the highest disaster risk index. In addition, in the Indonesian Disaster Information Data (DIBI) of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) throughout 2009-2019, floods and landslides were the most frequent disasters in Papua.
With details, there were 68 floods, 23 landslides, three tidal waves and abrasion, nine extreme weather events, one drought, 11 earthquakes and one tsunami. In total there were 116 disaster events. These 116 disasters resulted in 207 fatalities, 106 people missing, 1,562 injured, and 31,554 displaced. This means that for every one natural disaster, 270 people will be affected.
Seeing the above reality, Dompet Dhuafa Papua’s Cuma-Cuma Health Service (LKC) and Dompet Dhuafa’s Disaster Management Center (DMC) held a disaster mitigation training entitled Volunteer Camp at Tanjung Cinta Sentani, Doyo Lama, Waibu District, Jayapura Regency, Papua on October 28-30, 2022. A total of 30 participants participated in this activity.
“In the Jayapura City area when entering the rainy season, flooding often occurs and there are many volunteers from Dompet Dhuafa in Papua. So that with the holding of this training. It is really a provision for them in the field. This is also a form of prevention and socialization of disaster mitigation, “explained Umayra Maulida Sabatiyah as Head of the LKC Dompet Dhuafa Papua Region.
Training starts from handling first aid, managing Public Kitchens, Water Rescue, body recovery and is closed with management and evacuation simulations during a disaster. This training also invited the Indonesian National Army (TNI) and the Jayapura City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) which was attended by Lieutenant CKM (K) dr. Putri A. Tobo (Navy) and Lieutenant CKM (K) dr. Theresia Marlen. L (Yonif 751 TNI Clinic in Jayapura) from TNI Rindam Jayapura and A.G. Singgamui from BPBD Jayapura.
“Disaster management is also not only the responsibility of the government, but must involve the role of the wider community. This is what is currently known as community-based disaster management. This community-based disaster management is in the form of socialization and training to the community,” explained Haryo Mojopahit as Chief Executive of DMC Dompet Dhuafa.
It is hoped that with this training, the participants or volunteers will become potential or elements of disaster prevention and management that are taken into account at the local and regional levels. By uniting comprehensive strengths, and confident that in the future the handling of disasters will be more effective, fast and precise. (Dompet Dhuafa / DMC)