Ministry of Social Affairs LDP Team Provides Assistance to Wamena Evacuees

JAKARTA (October 4, 2019) - The Ministry of Social Affairs' Psychosocial Support Services (LDP) team provides assistance to survivors spread across six evacuee camps in Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, Papua.

"The LDP team from the Center is three people supported by District Social Welfare Workers (TKSK) and Family Hope Program (PKH) Facilitators in Wamena. They have completed a rapid assessment and started conducting a series of therapies for survivors," Minister of Social Affairs Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said here on Friday.

A total of six points of evacuee locations have been visited regularly, namely at the Military District Command, Polres, Bethlehem Church, Advent Church, Homhom Church and Baiturrahman Mosque in Wamena. At each location the team collected data on survivors and invited children to play.

"Then for adults, prayers are held together in mosques and churches," said Minister of Social Affairs Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita.

He said the results of the LDP Team's assessment showed that in general the cognitive aspects of survivors showed confused behavior, did not know what to do, worried that it was unclear how the future would be. While in the emotive aspect, survivors feel afraid, anxious, worried, tense, often surprised when they hear loud noises, always alert, suspicious, sad and not calm when sleeping at night.

"Therefore, social rehabilitation must be carried out through psychosocial support services. This is a form of State Presence in fulfilling the basic needs of survivors, as mandated in Law Number 2 of 2012 on Handling Social Conflict Article 38," he said.

The Minister explained that Article 38 states that the government and local governments carry out rehabilitation in post-conflict areas and areas affected by conflict, one of which is by means of psychological recovery of conflict victims and protection of vulnerable groups.

"Alhamdulillah, the presence of the Ministry of Social Affairs LDP Team has given color to the evacuee camps. Children sing and play together, cheerful and respond well when invited to draw and color. Meanwhile, their parents and the elderly are happy because the LDP Team can be a friend to share stories in the evacuee camp. By chatting and telling stories, at least it can reduce their inner burden and sense of trauma," said Minister of Social Affairs Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita.

Meanwhile, LDP Team Coordinator Milly Mildawati said that for handling the Wamena post-conflict, her party had developed an intervention plan, namely (1) Making a schedule of activities with children and adult women, as well as adult men at evacuee points every morning and evening; (2) Priority activities for children are recreational play, (3) Priority for adult women and adult male survivors is stress release to reduce their tension due to experiencing traumatic events; (4) Advocacy for the fulfillment of basic needs.

"Recreational activities with children aim to fulfill children's play needs. As for female and adult male survivors, the activities include social conversations aimed at providing communication space (mental catharsis), listening (accommodating) complaints and hopes of survivors," explained Milly.

The LDP team also invites survivors to do imaginative relaxation. The goal is to make survivors feel calm by inviting them to pause (rest) from negative thoughts and feelings.
Next is progressive muscle relaxation which aims to relax tense muscles to relax and help make it easier to sleep.

"To the Tagana Public Kitchen officers at the Main Post and Social Volunteers consisting of teachers were given PMR (Progressive Muscle Relaxation) because field officers are also vulnerable to secondary trauma and later they can teach other officers or survivors," said Milly.

As is known, on Monday (23/9) there was social unrest in Wamena. This was triggered by the hoax news of alleged racist acts committed by unscrupulous teachers to their students.

As a result of the riots, there were deaths, destruction, and burning of motorized vehicles and buildings belonging to the government and civilians. This caused residents to flee at several points.

This incident caused 32 people to die, 9,240 people were displaced, 77 people were injured, 224 cars were burned, 150 motorbikes were burned, 165 houses were damaged by fire, 20 office units were damaged, 465 business units were damaged. Meanwhile, the number of evacuees until October 1 was 6,112 people.

The Ministry of Social Affairs sent assistance to Jayawijaya Regency to fulfill basic needs in the form of logistical assistance for vulnerable groups and restoring people's economic businesses.
The initial stage of assistance was provided in the form of building a public kitchen for 5,000 people, 1,500 packages of children's clothing, 1,500 packages of men's clothing, 1,500 packages of women's clothing, 2,500 mattresses, 1,500 roll tents/tarpaulins, 2,500 blanket, 100 units of Productive Economic Business Assistance.

The Ministry of Social Affairs also distributed compensation to the heirs of the dead. The number of victims who died was 32 people, while the compensation was IDR 15 million per person.

Acting Head of Public Relations Bureau RI Ministry of Social Affairs
Sonny W. Manalu