Sendai-style Disaster Management

Photo by Luthfiah VOI

JAKARTA - The flash flood disaster that hit Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra at the end of November left a deep sorrow. A total of 1,140 people died, with details of 513 people in Aceh, 365 people in North Sumatra, and 262 people in West Sumatra. This tragedy destroyed the life of the community along the affected areas and again reminded the urgency of preparedness for disasters in Indonesia, a disaster-prone country due to its geographical location in the "Pacific Ring of Fire".

Indonesia has a strong legal umbrella, namely Law Number 24 of 2007 concerning Disaster, which has been the guide for the work of BNPB and BPBD so far. In parallel, the international community adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (SFDRR).

Although the Disaster Law is binding nationally, the Sendai Framework serves as a non-binding global guide adopted by 187 UN member states, including Indonesia. This framework was born after the devastating earthquake and tsunami tragedy in Japan in March 2011, which killed more than 15,000 people, and emphasizes a comprehensive approach from prevention to recovery.

The earthquake in the Japan Trench, which occurred with a magnitude of 7.2 Richter Scale (SR) which triggered a tsunami as high as 10 meters, rolled the eastern side of Honshu Island and killed more than 15,000 people. For the first time, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which was formed from the results of consultations between official stakeholders, is now the framework for a number of countries in dealing with disasters. Now the rules are adopted by 187 UN member states, against the backdrop of the devastating earthquake and tsunami tragedy that hit Japan in March 2011.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 outlines seven clear targets and four priority actions to prevent new disaster risks and reduce existing disaster risks: (i) Understanding disaster risks; (ii) Strengthening disaster risk management to manage disaster risks; (iii) Investing in disaster reduction for resilience; and (iv) Improving disaster preparedness for effective response, and for "Building Back Better" in recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.

This framework aims to achieve significant reduction of disaster risks and losses in terms of lives, livelihoods, and health, as well as economic, physical, social, cultural, and environmental assets of individuals, businesses, communities, and countries over the next 15 years.

This framework aims to achieve significant reduction of disaster risks and losses in terms of lives, livelihoods, and health, as well as economic, physical, social, cultural, and environmental assets of individuals, businesses, communities, and countries over the next 15 years.

The form of post-flash flood repair includes early recovery (rehabilitation) such as mud cleaning, logistics assistance, health services, and trauma healing, as well as long-term reconstruction in the form of the construction of safer permanent housing and disaster-resilient infrastructure, including relocation to safe zones and environmental improvements, with a focus on economic and social recovery, as well as increasing community preparedness for future disasters.

Rehabilitation Phase (Recovery)

Basic Cleaning & Services, cleaning mud from public facilities, offices, and residents' homes with the help of heavy equipment and restoring access to transportation and clean water.

Humanitarian assistance, distribution of logistics (food, clean water), medical assistance, and trauma healing activities (psychological recovery) for victims, especially children.

Economic Assistance: Cash assistance for minor renovations or business capital so that people can restart economic activities. Health, provision of health facilities, sanitation education, and prevention of post-flood diseases that may arise.

Reconstruction Phase (Rebuilding)

Housing development, permanent housing development (huntap) in safe zones, away from river banks or steep slopes, and temporary housing (huntara) for the transition period.

Tangguh infrastructure, reconstruction of infrastructure (bridges, electrical infrastructure, water networks) with stronger standards against disasters.

Space arrangement, determination of red zones (permanent residential bans) and safe zones, and determination of green lanes. Increasing capacity, human resource training and emergency planning to improve community preparedness.

According to the Head of BNPB, Lieutenant General Suharyanto, the cost of rebuilding Aceh and Sumatra after the flash flood is estimated to cost around 51.82 trillion. For the reconstruction and provision of compensation for victims who suffered a disaster and died or were missing,

Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Pratikno, said the government ensured that it had adequate funds to restore damaged houses due to flash floods and landslides in Sumatra.

"The President also guarantees that the government has adequate funds to solve this as best as possible," said Pratikno after the RTM, Wednesday. In the meeting, the government plans to provide a number of assistance to the people affected by the disaster, both temporary and permanent housing. Even the allocation of compensation for the victims who died and disappeared to their heirs.

Long-term changes

Changes in Building Materials, people tend to build houses from bricks with higher foundations because they are afraid of flooding. Changes in Behavior, increased awareness of disaster risk, but sometimes accompanied by social changes such as the fading of mutual aid.

Integrated strategies involve all parties (government, private sector, philanthropy, public) with close collaboration, transparent communication, and common goals, focusing on layered approaches such as the KPK Trisula (Enforcement, Prevention, Education) for corruption issues, or GRC (Governance, Risk, Compliance) for business, as well as the use of digital technology and strong leadership, in order to achieve holistic, efficient, and sustainable results in various sectors such as infrastructure development, education, or eradication of corruption.

Integrated Strategy of Multi-Sector Synergy

To ensure that the trillion rupiah fund is targeted and free from corruption, the government adopts an integrated strategy involving four key elements:

Government: Become a regulator, facilitator, provider of regulations, and guarantor of equal access.

Private Sector: Contribute through innovation, investment, and implementation of best practices (e.g. GRC).

Philanthropic Institutions: Provide specific support, bridge the gap, and strengthen programs in the community.

Community: play an active role in public participation, reporting, and education.

Holistic Approach (KPK Trisula) for Integrity in Recovery

In facing the challenges of post-disaster recovery as described in this context, it is important to adopt a holistic approach to ensure integrity and accountability in the use of resources. This approach includes several main lines:

Enforcement of Rules: Ensuring the implementation of strict regulations against all forms of irregularities or violations in the recovery process.

System Improvement: Carry out systematic improvements through transparency in the procurement and management of budgets, the application of structured risk management, and the use of digital technology for accountability.

Awareness Raising: Conduct continuous campaigns and education to increase public awareness about the importance of integrity in disaster recovery and the risk of deviation.

This step is not merely rebuilding a collapsed building, but improving collective mindset and behavior. Material changes to the building towards a more resilient direction and increased awareness of risk are the key to preventing similar tragedies from happening in the future.

With close collaboration between stakeholders, Indonesia is expected to be able to turn the remnants of destruction in Sumatra into a momentum for the revival of a more resilient ecosystem against disasters.

Utilization of Technology and Strategic Collaboration

The use of digital technology, such as online-based platforms for transparency and risk management, can help avoid information barriers between institutions and accelerate accurate decision-making.

In addition, strategic collaboration between the parties involved is very crucial. Support from various parties and the development of strong partnerships can accelerate the recovery process and the innovation needed.

Through this integrated strategy involving various sectors and holistic approaches, post-disaster recovery is expected to not only focus on physical development, but also strengthen social and economic resilience holistically, towards more efficient and sustainable results.