"Handayani" Children's Center LDP Team Provides Psychosocial Therapy to Residents Affected by the Balongan Oil Refinery Fire

JAKARTA (March 30, 2021) – The Psychosocial Support Service Team (LDP) of "Handayani" Children's Center this morning left for the evacuation site for victims affected by the Balongan Oil Refinery Fire in Indramayu, West Java. The Center dispatches social workers and psychologists to provide psychosocial support services to affected residents, especially children.

Previously, Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini visited the evacuation site at Bumi Patra Sports Center and directly delivered logistical assistance worth a total of IDR 305,184,250 for handling the impact of the fire disaster and establishing a public kitchen.

The LDP team first coordinated with the Indramayu Regency Social Office, which was represented by the Head of the Child and Elderly Social Rehabilitation Section, Abdul Kalim.

"Currently there are 5 villages that are affected, those are within a radius of 300 m to 1 km from the refinery location. Currently there are no reports of casualties, but indeed there are those who died from shock and heart attacks," said Abdul.

The Pertamina Balongan Oil Refinery fire caused at least 6 people to be seriously injured, 29 people to have minor injuries, and more than 900 people to evacuate. Abdul said that currently residents were evacuated at three points.
 
"There are 3 evacuation points that have been prepared, in the Regency Hall, the Islamic Center Mosque, and the Bumi Patra GOR. Residents evacuated because their houses were damaged, the glass was broken, and the ceiling collapsed," Abdul told the Handayani Children's Center Team.

After coordinating with the Social Office, the team immediately headed to Bumi Patra GOR to conduct psychosocial assessment and therapy.

“We are conducting data collection, as well as assessing the children to find out whether there are indications of trauma or not. Currently, you have assessed 92 children," explained the Psychologist from the "Handayani" Children's Center, Fathimatuzzahroh Rahmah.

She said so far some children are indicated to have experienced trauma, and others have not. Indications of trauma such as fear of hearing thunder or loud noises. To reduce this trauma, the "Handayani" Children's Center Team has also provided psychosocial therapy by inviting children to play.

“Earlier we had invited the children to play so that they could forget for a moment the unpleasant situation they were in. We have prepared several recreational kits that will be used in the therapy and trauma healing process,” she continued.

Furthermore, Fathima said that the team will continue to be in the evacuee camps to continue the assessment and provide psychosocial support in the form of trauma healing and therapy to affected residents, both children and parents.