The Ministry of Social Affairs Continues to Provide Psychosocial Support Services for Child Victims of the Bima Flood Disaster

BIMA (April 5, 2021) - The Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation, the Directorate of Social Rehabilitation of Children through the Paramita Children's Center and the Bima Regency Child Assistance Social Work Service Unit conducted Psychosocial Support Services (LDP) in Naru Village, Woha District, Bima Regency.

Based on the results of interviews with the Village Secretary, Naru Village is one of the affected villages in Woha District with 80% affected by flooding, ranging from residential areas to school facilities. The 3 other villages affected include Nisa Village, Rabakodo Village, and also Perapale Village.

Prior to the action, the Paramita Children's Center team coordinated with several stakeholders who were present at the location, including the Social Work Service Unit, Disaster Voluntary Workers (Tagana), and Health Service led by the Head of the Center to determine their respective roles in the field.

Furthermore, the Team carried out LDP activities with 170 children who were around the disaster relief posts aged Kindergarten and Elementary School. The LDP team at the Children's Directorate, Paramita Children's Center, consisting of five  people accompanied by the Dompu District Child Social Service Unit, quickly conducted an LDP to unravel the anxiety in children that had started to arise due to the flood disaster they experienced three days ago. This area is one of the areas affected by flooding.

Psychosocial support services provided by the rapid reaction team are part of the Child Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI). The form of LDP provided by the Team is in the form of Ice Breaking and forming a Recreational Group.

"The children were quite enthusiastic about participating in the LDP. Their enthusiasm showed from the radiance of joy following the games given. Not only that, they seemed to have forgotten what happened to them yesterday," said Edy Karyadi, one of the Ice Breaker officers.

At that location, the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini was also present to provide reinforcement and sing with the LDP recipient children. It seemed that the Minister was happy to see the children singing happily.

Also on that occasion, the Ministry of Social Affairs provided aid in the form of 10 boxes of children's food so that they would be more cheerful after participating in the activity. As for 1 package of food ingredients, it contains 3 pcs of Marie Susu biscuits, 3 pcs of Malkist biscuits, and 2 pcs of coconut-flavored biscuits.

I Ketut Supena, the Head of the Center said, "It is important to carry out LDP activities so that the children grow cheerful and can quickly forget the events that happened to them before and do not become prolonged trauma."

Kartini, one of the children of the LDP participants said, "Thank you, brothers and sisters, from the Paramita Ministry of Social Affairs who have cared about us. We are happy to be able to play lots of games with friends."

Then, the Paramita Children's Center Team of the Directorate of Children's Social Rehabilitation will target other flood-affected locations to provide LDP and provide emergency relief items e.g fast food, mattresses, and mattresses.