Ministry of Social Affairs Recovers Trauma of Wamena Survivors

WAMENA, JAYAWIJAYA (October 6, 2019) - Samsiah (45) cried when the Ministry of Social Affairs team visited the evacuation camp at Military District Command 1702/Jayawijaya, Saturday (5/10).

The woman who was sitting on a veldbed donated by the Ministry of Social Affairs covered her face with a blanket. Her sobs made fellow evacuees approach and try to calm her down. Director General of Social Protection and Security Harry Hikmat approached and tried to talk to the mother.

"I want Wamena to be safe, sir. So that my children can go back to school," Samsiah said softly, opening the conversation.

Between sobs, she told me that her children were attending school during the riots. The woman from Takalar Regency, South Sulawesi, admitted that she and other residents fled to Military District Command. Her son, who was in junior high school, was found sheltering in a church. He was then picked up and returned to Takalar until the situation in Wamena was conducive and school activities began.

"Our hope is for security in our neighborhood. So that we can live in peace with our families," he said.

The Director General said that the psychological situation of post-conflict residents generally still feels fear, anxiety, worry, and tension, are often surprised when they hear loud noises, are always alert, moody, and sad, and not calm when sleeping at night.

"For this reason, as directed by the Minister of Social Affairs Mr. Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, we continue to carry out social rehabilitation to restore their psychological condition," said the Director General.

He explained that the social rehabilitation process is carried out by providing psychosocial support services. Some ways include inviting them to continue to do activities, and involving them in activities with other evacuees so that they do not daydream for a long time and can slowly heal trauma. For example, survivors in evacuee camps participate in cooking in public kitchens, pray together, and invite them to clean the environment, for imaginative relaxation and progressive muscle relaxation.

"As done by personnel of Military District Command1702/Jayawijaya, Jayawijaya Police, evacuees, local government, and volunteers in the Joint Community Service. They went around cleaning damaged schools, debris of government offices, houses, markets, and roads," explained the Director General.

Commander of Military District Command 1702/Jayawijaya Lieutenant Colonel Inf Chandra Dianto said the situation in Wamena is slowly becoming conducive. This can be seen from the activities of the community who have started opening shops, and starting to leave the house, traffic on the road has started to be crowded with vehicles passing by.

"Through the Joint Community Service activities, it is hoped that the city can be organized again so that the economic and social activities of the community can run again as usual," said Dandim.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Social Affairs for the logistical assistance and public kitchen equipment which was very useful during the surge in the number of evacuees on the first day after the riots.

"Initially, the public kitchen cooked using Military District Command logistics and makeshift equipment. Using small pots and cooking with firewood. On the second day after the riots, the Ministry of Social Affairs team was already in Wamena and was given public kitchen equipment and until now the public kitchen is running well," he explained.

One of the residents in the evacuation camp, Ami (34), who was met at the Military District Command Evacuation Public Kitchen, said that every day she cooks with the ladies of Persit (Army Women's Association) twice a day. For breakfast, they are given bread, milk, and cereal from Military District Command.

"This afternoon we cooked rice, capcay vegetables, and chicken opor. Tonight's menu is stir-fried kale and boiled eggs cooked in balado," said Ami.

Dandim Chandra also expressed his gratitude because the presence of the Psychosocial Support Service Team from the Ministry of Social Affairs in the evacuation camps was very beneficial, especially for children.

"This psychological assistance process helps children be more cheerful than when they first came to evacuate," he said.

Meanwhile, based on data from Military District Command 1702/Jayawijaya, data on evacuees in Wamena until Saturday evening (5/10) was recorded at 2,636 people with details of evacuation centers at Military District Command 1702/Jayawijaya (1.254 people), Jayawijaya Regional Police (662 people), Koramil 1702-03/Wamena (150 people), Subdenpom Wamena (29 people), Bethlehem Church (35 people), Yonif 756/WMS (19 people), Efata Church (22 people), Mosque (37 people), Advent Church (95 people), El-Shadday Church (50 people), Pasar Baru Mosque (20 people), Pikeyro Building (16 people), KPU Office (7 people), Nirwana Gang (12 people), Hom Hom tofu factory (20 people), scattered in residential housing (208 people).

During his visit to Wamena, the Director General visited six points that were badly affected, namely Pasar Baru, Hom Hom, Pasar Woma, Kama, Pikei, and the Regent's Office. Based on the observation of conditions on the highway, in general, residents' activities have been seen, Padang restaurants and food stalls have opened, building shops are crowded with buyers, some vegetable traders have started selling, and fish traders look crowded with buyers. They sell on the side of the road because the market was burned down.

"The economic pulse that has begun to run is one sign that Wamena's conditions are gradually recovering and conducive. Of course, we hope that Wamena will rise," said the Director General.


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