BADUNG (19 December 2022) - People with disabilities are no longer seen as objects in disaster management.  Together with other elements, they are active actors in line with their capacities.

Based on the direction of the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini, the involvement of people with disabilities is a manifestation of their equal social roles and functions in society.  On the other hand, the high intensity of disasters in Indonesia requires the widest possible involvement of elements in the society.

For disaster management purposes, Ministry of Social Affairs has activated Disaster Response Volunteer.  Now, to accommodate the role of people with disabilities and parties who carry an inclusive vision, Difabel Disaster Response Volunteer (Difagana) was formed.  First initiated in 2017 in Yogyakarta Special Region Province (DIY), Difagana is an inclusive laboratory related to disaster management and is the result of mitigation studies for vulnerable groups, especially disabilities in disaster emergencies.

"The role of people with disabilities is often seen as objects in the context of disasters. Even though they can be empowered to become part of social pillars," said Chairman of Difagana DIY Doddy Kurniawan Kaliri when met at Bali Disability Disaster Response and Mitigation Activity, on Sunday (18/12).

At the beginning of its emergence, it was doubted that Difagana's role in disaster management could develop and benefit the wider community.  However, this did not dampen Difagana's noble intentions in helping fellow people with disabilities.

"Thank God, we were able to prove that Difagana can be a priority subject in inclusive disaster management," said Doddy.

Composed of 121 personnel with various expertise competencies, Difagana DIY's achievements cannot be doubted.  Apart from being a facilitator in Tagana Goes to Community (TMK) and Tagana Goes to School (TMS), Difagana DIY has also been tasked with mitigating social protection in some regions, including Sembalun, West Nusa Tenggara (2018), Palu, Sigi, and Donggala, Central Sulawesi (2018-2019), and Cianjur, West Java (2022).

"Difagana personnel assigned to disaster locations are adjusted to needs in the field. For example, Psychosocial Support Service (LDP) in Cianjur deployed three Difagana people who provided trauma healing, counseling, and relaxation," said this member of NGO SIKAP Indonesia.

Difagana membership, continued Doddy, is not only limited to people with disabilities but also all levels of society who care about people with disabilities.

"In essence, Difagana is made inclusive, including those without disabilities who are also welcome to join. What is important is that they must have a vision, mission, and paradigm of inclusive disaster management, have a volunteer spirit, and be ready to serve in all regions of Indonesia and take part in activities involving Difagana,"  said the winner of the Local Champion Award and speaker at the 2022 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) Forum in Brisbane, Australia, some time ago.

In the future, Doddy hopes that Difagana will become a national program so that it can reduce the potential vulnerability of people with disabilities in disaster management.

"I appreciate Ministry of Social Affairs for providing follow-up in strengthening disaster response for people with disabilities and strongly support the follow-up to the formation of Difagana in Bali Province. Ideally, Social Office and Social Pillars mutually support Difagana as an integral part of inclusive disaster management that understands how to evacuate people with disabilities," said Doddy.