Not Only Good at Eliminating Poverty, PKH Human Resources Do Response to Disasters

JAKARTA (January 28, 2021) - In early 2021, Indonesia was hit by many disasters. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded at least 185 disasters including hydrometeorological disasters, tidal waves and earthquakes from January 1 to 21, 2021.

The number of disasters that occurred in various regions prompted hundreds of Human Resources (HR) for the Family Hope Program (PKH) to be directly involved in disaster management. All elements of PKH HR in the regions starting from the Regional Coordinator (Korwil), District Coordinator (Korkab)/City Coordinator (Korkot), Database Administrator (APD) and PKH Social Assistance are directly involved in disaster management and assisting disaster survivors, especially PKH HR in the area where the disaster occurred.

PKH HR collaborates with various parties in disaster management, such as the Disaster Preparedness Cadets (Tagana), including relevant regional offices and agencies, ranging from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Social Services, Universities, Centers for Social Welfare Education and Training (BBPPKS), Social Welfare Polytechnic (Poltekesos) Bandung, and other volunteers in the area.

Various activities were carried out by PKH HR to help disaster survivors, including the establishment of a disaster post, being involved in soup kitchens, logistics distribution for evacuee needs, to Psychosocial Support Services (LDP).

“The role of PKH HR is to assist the implementation of LDP for flood disaster survivors, both children and the elderly; help in the distribution of basic needs for victims or evacuees, including food, clothing, and other needs," said PKH Human Resources for South Kalimantan Province, Dedi Hidayat when contacted by cell phone, Thursday (27/1).

Dedi's involvement in flood disaster management in South Kalimantan, especially in the BBPPKS Banjarmasin evacuee shelter, is more likely to be LDP in the form of providing 'Origami' skills to children.

"They are very enthusiastic and happy to participate in this activity. In addition, I also help procure basic food materials for logistics by shopping at the market," he added.

A similar experience was also conveyed by the West Sulawesi Province PKH HR, Andy Pratama HR. He recounted the role of PKH human resources in the disaster, namely helping to distribute logistics, in the form of basic needs, to earthquake survivors, even though access was the most difficult in several villages in the sub-districts of Malunda, Tappalang, and West Tappalang.

"I coordinate the trauma healing team for disaster victims, which is carried out at several disaster post points. This trauma healing activity is very helpful for children who are traumatized after the earthquake. Meanwhile, trauma healing activities have been running at several disaster post points," said Andy who has been trained to do trauma healing in several previous disaster events.

Another, HR PKH Sumedang Regency, West Java Province, Dini Nurlatifah. He and Tagana, Sumedang Regency, helped soup kitchens and distributed donations to victims of the Cimanggung landslide disaster, Sumedang Regency.

Meanwhile, PKH HR in Bogor Regency, West Java Province, Putu Rai Ilham Akbar, together with the local Korwil formed an Expedition Team to reach landslide victims in Sukajaya District, Bogor Regency.

"I have to go to Sukajaya sub-district with very difficult access, entering about 6 km from the main highway to reach the Sukajaya border. Because the access road was covered by landslides, making it difficult to bring logistics for aid, we had to carry the logistics on foot between two and three hours," said Putu.

Mixed feelings were felt by PKH HR who were involved in disaster management. The contribution to getting involved started from feeling sorry for seeing the catastrophic events happening almost at the same time around them. This is coupled with the emergence of disaster-affected survivors with poor conditions and requiring them to live in evacuee camps.

“Of course (we joined) when we saw that they were happy, even though they had to stay in the evacuee camps for a while. At least, we can reduce their burden or sadness a little after their house was flooded, or buried by landslides, or even lost their homes due to being damaged by the earthquake," said Putu.