"Budhi Dharma" Center Distributes Basic Needs for Elderly Evacuees of Mount Merapi Eruption

SLEMAN (November 22, 2020) - The Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs through the case response team of the Bekasi "Budhi Dharma" Elderly Center carried out the distribution of basic needs as a result of the 2020 budget refocusing in the form of basic necessities, blankets, masks and diapers for the elderly evacuees of Mount Merapi which is on alert status III. Eruptions have occurred since November 5, 2020 in 3 affected districts, namely Sleman, Klaten and Boyolali districts. This activity is a form of the Ministry of Social Affairs' quick response to being present in a disaster situation.

The Head of the Bekasi "Budhi Dharma" Elderly Center, Pujiyanto during his visit to the Social Office of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), Saturday/21 November 2020 conveyed the purpose of the team's arrival to Yogyakarta. "In response to every disaster incident, the Bekasi "Budhi Dharma" Elderly Center pays attention to the elderly through the distribution of social assistance and assessments to the elderly by coordinating with the Social Office, Disaster Preparedness Cadets (Tagana), Senior Professionals (TPLU) so that the synergy goes well," said Puji.

The elderly as one of the vulnerable groups during natural disasters require attention from all parties so that the needs of the elderly are met and their health is maintained.

The Head of the Social Security and Protection Division, Sigit Alfianto received a visit from the office team and expressed his gratitude for the visit. “We are open to the collaboration of the Center and Social Office, the character of Merapi's current eruption prediction is not the same as in 2010. There are 1 village and 3 hamlets affected in the DIY area that need attention. The latest data is that there are 78 elderly from 249 refugees in the Glagahharjo shelter,” said Sigit.

The Center Team, Head of Center, Head of Social Assessment and Advocacy Section, social workers, nurses and TPLU of Central Java and DIY Provinces in accordance with the direction of the Social Office of DIY Province carried out the distribution of social assistance and assessment of the elderly through 2 Posts namely DIY Adju Social Office Post and Aju Sleman Regency Post, Hall of Umbulharjo Village as a form of coordination for each visitor before arriving at the Glagahharjo Evacuee Barracks.

A total of 62 social assistance packages were given by the Bekasi "Budhi Dharma" Elderly Center to the elderly in Glagahharjo Shelter, and were received directly by the Head of the Sleman Regency Social Office and their staff and continued to the evacuee barracks to meet with the elderly to conduct assessments and provide psychosocial support to the elderly in the area. barracks.

Distribution of social assistance to fulfill basic needs then to Central Java Regency. The evacuee camps were spread over 3 regencies, namely: Klaten, Boyolali and Magelang regencies with a total of 240 elderly people who were displaced. 55 elderly in Klaten Regency in 2 evacuation points (Tegalmulyo Village and Balerante Village), 56 elderly in Boyolali Regency in 3 evacuation points (Tlogolele Village, Klakah, Jrakah) and 179 elderly in Magelang Regency.

In Boyolali Regency, the Center Team distributed assistance to meet the basic needs that the elderly really needed, namely blankets, diapers for the elderly, and masks, Friday/20 Nov 2020. Meanwhile, in Klaten Regency, the Center Team could only reach 1 village, namely Balerante Village to distribute aid for fulfillment basic needs, 35 packages of basic necessities and basic needs in the form of elderly diapers and masks.

Currently, the activity of Mount Merapi is getting higher, both seismicity and avalanches. Based on information from the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) that magma is getting closer to the surface. Vulnerable groups such as toddlers, children, pregnant women, the disabled, and the elderly need to be evacuated and require a lot of attention from many parties.