The MoSA Provides Psychosocial Assistance and Support for Lumajang Earthquake Victims

LUMAJANG (April 14, 2021) - The Ministry of Social Affairs through the "Galih Pakuan" Resident Center in Bogor responded to the earthquake that occurred in Lumajang, East Java on Saturday, April 10, 2021.

Three people from the "Galih Pakuan" Resident Center in Bogor were immediately dispatched to the disaster site. This team worked together with the Outreach Team (TRC) of the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation, the Lumajang District Social Office, and the Directorate of Social Protection for Natural Disaster Victims (PSKBA).

After previously coordinating with the local Social Office, the Team immediately visited one of the villages in Lumajang Regency which had suffered quite a lot of damage, namely Kaliuling Village. There the Team conducted initial communication with the Head of the Kaliuling Village Government Section, Suhartanto. "There are many residents whose houses were badly damaged so they set up tents for temporary housing," said Suhartanto.

The first step taken by the Team was to provide basic food assistance and then conduct a Psychosocial Support Service delivery session with several disaster victims at that location.

One of the disaster survivors named Wahyudi (36 years) recounted the moments when the earthquake occurred. "At that time, I was in the house and felt a strong shock and immediately ran out of the house in fear," said Wahyudi.

As a result of the incident, Wahyudi's house was badly damaged, forcing him and his family to flee to a tent not far from his house.

Sutrisno, a member of the Team who is a Social Worker at the Galih Pakuan Residential Center Bogor then conducted a counseling session with Wahyudi. In this session, Sutrisno provided reinforcement to increase Wahyudi's spirit to be optimistic again after the earthquake.

The team also visited another location in Kaliuling Village which was badly damaged by the earthquake, namely Brojo Hamlet. Here the Team succeeded in identifying three children who indicated they had experienced trauma due to the earthquake disaster they experienced.

The team also provides Psychosocial Support Services to them. The team invited them to share their fears and anxieties. "I'm afraid it would be like yesterday, I can still imagine the vibrations that occurred during yesterday's earthquake, until now I'm still afraid," said Almira (12 years) who is one of the children who survived the earthquake.

Furthermore, the Social Worker provided motivation and strengthening for Almira and her friends so that they will be able to go through this disaster steadfastly and remain optimistic that everything will return to normal as usual.

"This is only temporary, don't get discouraged, later you will definitely be able to do activities again as usual, go to school again, play again. Try to slowly overcome the fear, one of which is by doing other activities such as playing with friends and other positive activities," said Sutrisno when conducting a sharing session with the children who were the survivors of the earthquake.

This earthquake disaster not only caused physical damage, but also psychological conditions that made the victims often feel afraid, anxious, and pessimistic. The presence of the Ministry of Social Affairs through the "Galih Pakuan" Resident Center is expected to ease some of their burdens, through the provision of basic food assistance and psychosocial support provided.