Last February –5 months after living in the evacuation – 17,150 IDPs went back to their homes. Mt. Sinabung eruption had destroyed their houses and livelihoods with volcanic ash and stones. Almost 51,000 hectares of rice paddy field covered by volcanic ashes. Currently the local government and people who lives in 3 villages which located 3 kilometers from the crater are facing difficult problem, relocation.
Relocation is needed to help affected people rebuild their lives. New houses and new agricultural land. But everyone should be aware, residential relocation from affected areas to new areas is not a sprint, it's a marathon. It’s a long road with a variety of policy barriers and the pitfalls of social problems. The most basic question for those 1,255 people are their hope for the future. Will they be fully recovered? What it will look like and when.
Recovery on economic and resettlement
Recovery post disaster always challenging and takes time due multi dimension aspects need to be covered. For instance the economic aspect which is recovery of livelihoods in agricultural areas affected by the volcanic ash. The government should organize supply chain and supported with comprehensive policies. New paddy field development should not stop at the construction of irrigation channel. The government needs to provide assistance to farmers so that the crop cultivation system is suitable with the new land. Government support during early recovery period is needed on planting, growing, harvesting and selling activities to minimize potential losses of farmers.
On dwelling subject, it is challenging for the survivor that can immediately to occupy the residence as before the disaster. Post-disaster housing reconstruction is a process that is the interaction of complex social, technological and economic factors and actions (Baradan, 2006). The policy chosen by government to support one aspect will affect the other.
To explain the interrelationship of many aspects, take a look on relocation. We can learn from the experience of landslide victims in Maninjau, West Sumatra. The landslide caused by the 2009 earthquake, they still living in temporary shelter. It is not easy to develop a new residential area, because it means forest clearcutting. There will be series requirements that need to be fulfilled. The mechanism of ownership is also unclear, if a person accepts land in the relocation area then they must relinquish the original land rights. If the previous land is their family inheritance, it is unlikely to release. If the relocation area away from their livelihood it will be difficult to convince them to be relocated. Relocating means moving the entire economic infrastructure to the new area.
It is almost impossible for immediate rehabilitation and reconstruction in relocation area. Let us look at Mentawai tsunami 2010 survivors. They have to wait for about 3 years for this work to begin. This waiting period made the vulnerable from the political and security aspects. Strong leadership is needed to integrate and make the most of the smallest resources available for recovery. The affected people – especially those from the villages of Sukameriah, Bekerah and Simacem - must continue to be empowered. Even they are affected people, they have to proactive and have involvement on recovery process.
Leadership on recovery
Leading 389 families from all three relocated villages would be a daunting task. That's why they need strong leadership to support of the citizens but also attract other elements of the outside community to help. Multi-stakeholder support is necessary because recovery will be too much to bear by the community and government.
The support could come from business institutions, if they might see economic prospect that can develop over the long term. Business entities also require the legal certainty and fair policy so that the business can be beneficial for them and the society. Support might also come from non-governmental organizations as can be seen on their humanitarian and development program.
The recovery leaders must have innovative method and solution in post-disaster recovery. Replicating those that have been successfully applied in other areas will not have necessarily can be implemented in Sinabung. Indonesia is a country rich in diversity. Each community has its own uniqueness. No size fits all. The recovery initiative should come from the uniqueness of society. They can use their local wisdom as the fundamental elements of the recovery. If the recovery effort proven successful then it can be expected the community could be more resilient.
Arwin Soelaksono
Relocation is needed to help affected people rebuild their lives. New houses and new agricultural land. But everyone should be aware, residential relocation from affected areas to new areas is not a sprint, it's a marathon. It’s a long road with a variety of policy barriers and the pitfalls of social problems. The most basic question for those 1,255 people are their hope for the future. Will they be fully recovered? What it will look like and when.
Recovery on economic and resettlement
On dwelling subject, it is challenging for the survivor that can immediately to occupy the residence as before the disaster. Post-disaster housing reconstruction is a process that is the interaction of complex social, technological and economic factors and actions (Baradan, 2006). The policy chosen by government to support one aspect will affect the other.
To explain the interrelationship of many aspects, take a look on relocation. We can learn from the experience of landslide victims in Maninjau, West Sumatra. The landslide caused by the 2009 earthquake, they still living in temporary shelter. It is not easy to develop a new residential area, because it means forest clearcutting. There will be series requirements that need to be fulfilled. The mechanism of ownership is also unclear, if a person accepts land in the relocation area then they must relinquish the original land rights. If the previous land is their family inheritance, it is unlikely to release. If the relocation area away from their livelihood it will be difficult to convince them to be relocated. Relocating means moving the entire economic infrastructure to the new area.
It is almost impossible for immediate rehabilitation and reconstruction in relocation area. Let us look at Mentawai tsunami 2010 survivors. They have to wait for about 3 years for this work to begin. This waiting period made the vulnerable from the political and security aspects. Strong leadership is needed to integrate and make the most of the smallest resources available for recovery. The affected people – especially those from the villages of Sukameriah, Bekerah and Simacem - must continue to be empowered. Even they are affected people, they have to proactive and have involvement on recovery process.
Leadership on recovery
Leading 389 families from all three relocated villages would be a daunting task. That's why they need strong leadership to support of the citizens but also attract other elements of the outside community to help. Multi-stakeholder support is necessary because recovery will be too much to bear by the community and government.
The support could come from business institutions, if they might see economic prospect that can develop over the long term. Business entities also require the legal certainty and fair policy so that the business can be beneficial for them and the society. Support might also come from non-governmental organizations as can be seen on their humanitarian and development program.
The recovery leaders must have innovative method and solution in post-disaster recovery. Replicating those that have been successfully applied in other areas will not have necessarily can be implemented in Sinabung. Indonesia is a country rich in diversity. Each community has its own uniqueness. No size fits all. The recovery initiative should come from the uniqueness of society. They can use their local wisdom as the fundamental elements of the recovery. If the recovery effort proven successful then it can be expected the community could be more resilient.
Arwin Soelaksono
Photo source: https://img.okezone.com/content/2015/06/14/340/1165299/bnpb-kerugian-erupsi-gunung-sinabung-mencapai-rp1-49-triliun-DKYecxvKf0.jpg
