"Naibonat" Children's Center Provides Psychosocial Services for Children of Flash Flood Disaster Victims

KUPANG (April 10, 2021) - The "Naibonat" Children's Center in Kupang as a UPT belonging to the Ministry of Social Affairs took quick steps in responding to the case of children who were victims of the flash flood disaster due to the impact of the Seroja tropical cyclone that occurred in several areas in NTT. In post-disaster situations, child victims of natural disasters belong to a vulnerable group and are also targets who need Psychosocial Support Services as a form of recovery for victims affected by natural disasters.

The Naibonat Children's Center in Kupang on Saturday, April 10, 2021, around 09.00 - 13.00 local time carried out Psychosocial Support Services (LDP) activities together with the presence of representatives from the Directorate of Social Rehabilitation for Children. This activity was carried out at 2 flash flood victim posts, Elim Naibonat Church. A total of 103 children took part in this activity.

Head of the "Naibonat" Children's Center in Kupang, Supriyono said that 11 Social Workers and Social Counselors of the Naibonat Children's Center in Kupang collaborated with the Social Work Service Unit (Sakti Peksos) for the Regency and City of Kupang, with a total of 5 people providing LDP in Naibonat Village, Kupang Regency to 200 children affected by the floods. The activity was also carried out by prioritizing health protocols because before the activity started the children had been distributed masks by the LDP team from Balai.

This activity is carried out through various games and group dynamics, playing ball and balloons, singing, and drawing together as art therapy for children, and educational riddles brought by social workers from the local Naibonat Children's Center and Sakti Peksos.

One of the evacuee children A (9 years old), told a story while holding back tears. When the flood entered his house, all family members felt panicked and scared because the flood was very heavy and swept away things in his house including damaging some of the walls of their house. At that time he and their parents and siblings cried and shouted for help. In a state of panic and fear, they gathered together, hugged each other, and prayed for God's help.

According to him, at the time of the incident, the floods were getting heavier and they were still staying at home. They couldn't leave the house because they were trapped. They were also hungry but the rice had been carried away by the flood currents and there was no food to eat anymore. So his father had to take papaya fruit from the tree next to the house to eat so he wouldn't be hungry.

He said he was very scared by the flood he saw and felt, and he prayed. "Hopefully God won't give another flood because floods can kill people." A also hopes that someone will help to repair his house again because according to him his house has been in ruins and he cannot take shelter now. For a while, he lives in his mother's family's house.

Not only providing psychosocial support services, but the Naibonat Children's Center also provided Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATTENSI) assistance to 200 children. This basic needs assistance per package consists of 5 kg of premium rice, 10 pieces of instant noodles, toothpaste, 2 pieces of body soap, 1 series of Dancow milk (10 sachets), large packs of Regal biscuits and masks as well as assistance i.e a Recreational Kit consisting of books Drawings (40 Books), Coloring Books (100 books), Crayons (20 Packs), Origami Paper (20 packs), Toy Candles (20 packs), Paper Glue (2 pieces), Folklore Books (30 books), Novel Books (10 Books), Hand Puppets (16 sets), 24 inflatable balloons per pack (20 packs), 12 colored markers (10 sets), Masking tape (2 pieces), Kick Ball (4 pieces), and Manual Ball Pump (2 pieces).