Muhamad Fajrin Al Fikri
“YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU) is a community-based organization headquartered in Yogyakarta, mandated to respond to emergencies and prepare for disasters. Supported by funding from Arbeiterwohlfahrt International (AWO International), YEU collaborates with five villages in the districts of Cugenang and Pacet, Cianjur Regency. These villages include Mangunkerta, Gasol, Talaga, Nyalindung, and Ciputri.
The programs carried out by YEU were enhancing disaster preparedness, providing support for basic needs, and ensuring protection for at-risk groups within the community. All these efforts align with the government’s commitment to community recovery following the disaster on November 21, 2022.
YEU facilitated the development of Disaster Risk Management and Contingency Plans in their five supported villages: Nyalindung, Gasol, Mangunkerta, Ciputri, and Talaga in Cianjur Regency. Each document development process took place over two days. This step was taken as a follow-up to collaboration with village governments, aiming to improve disaster preparedness and build resilient villages.
“The Contingency Plan is likened to a fire extinguisher that should always be prepared, even though we hope it will never be used. Its utilization in real situations indicates an occurring disaster. Ideally, if employed, it should only be for simulation. It’s better to have a plan when it’s not needed than not to have a plan when it’s truly needed,” said Mesih Andana during the introduction to the Contingency Plan development in Ciputri village.
Eli Sunarso added, “The Contingency Plan needs to be tailored to different locations and disaster threats. Each disaster threat requires a specific plan. Based on the study results, the types of threats to be faced are identified within the Contingency Plan. It requires mapping potential impacts, optimizing resources in emergencies, early warning systems, and accessible evacuation maps for everyone, including people with disabilities and older people. Discussions also covered actions to be taken by each sector or department within the Disaster Alert Team, as well as operational needs or required actions.”
During the development of the Disaster Risk Management and Contingency Plans Documents, YEU facilitators explained Indonesia’s disaster management system, including regulations, policies, stages, principles, and objectives. The material was delivered through participant engagement.
“Disaster management aims to protect the community. This is done in a planned manner, not spontaneously, with specific principles to follow. These principles are outlined in Law number 24 of 2007 concerning Disaster Management, such as rapid and appropriate responses, transparency, accountability, non-discrimination, empowerment, coordination, respect for local wisdom, and not for practical political interests,” Mesih Andana elaborated during the introductory presentation on Disaster Risk Management document development.
After being briefed on the Disaster Risk Management and Contingency Plan materials, participants engaged in group discussions concerning disaster management policies and strategies at the village level, identifying disaster management activities, as well as the duties and functions of the village alert team. Plans for the contingency needs of various team sectors were also discussed.”
