Disaster Response: Indonesia Earthquake & Tsunamis

Survivors of disasters are at higher risk for psychological distress and mental health conditions due to the stress, fear, displacement, uncertainty and loss of loved ones and livelihoods, which are affecting them, their families and their communities.

In the aftermath of the Central Sulawesi earthquakes and tsunamis in Fall 2018, International Medical Corps partnered with Indonesia Bhadra Utama Foundation (IBU), a local non-governmental organization working in emergency response, to facilitate a two-day workshop for 21 local volunteers on child protection, psychological first aid and other approaches to psychosocial support. The workshop included activity-based discussions on topics such as safe boundaries, safe touches versus hurtful touches, stress management and identifying emotions. At the conclusion of the workshop, the volunteers’ knowledge about mental health and psychosocial support had increased by 61% between their mean pre-test and post-test scores.

Thanks to interviews and observations conducted by the newly trained psychosocial support volunteers, we learned that post-disaster psychological distress was evident among both children and adults in Sigi and Donggala district of Central Sulawesi. Since being installed in his role the youth leader for Baluase village of Sigi District, Firdaus has addressed these concerns through informal education activities promoting positive mental health for some 740 primary school-aged children, 6 to 12 years old, in three safe spaces, known as Rumah Kencana Centres, in Baluase, Walatana and Balongga villages.

"I am very happy there is a workshop that provides instruction on the promotion of mental health for youth and adolescents after the disaster,” Firdaus tells us. “I think that a program like this not only helps us anticipate the needs in the aftermath of a disaster, but also builds up a village through the youth.” He continues: “Discussing and declaring ideas among young people should be continued.”

The workshop allowed Firdaus to integrate his new skills and knowledge with ongoing conversations within the village, and with existing platforms for community-based activities, such as the “Nature Lover’s Group.” “The youth here are used to leading discussions and planning events. For example, we have a ‘Nature Lover’s Group’ that plans mountain activities,” he says.

Thanks to the GlobalGiving community and other donors, International Medical Corps team members and our local volunteers, like Firdaus, can continue to ensure the resiliency of the next generation through future disasters.

Dani lives in Namo village and works as a farmer. Prior to the earthquake and tsunami on September 28, 2018, Dani says that his house “was made of permanent concrete. Yet at the time of the earthquake, the house collapsed to the ground.” Thankfully, Dani’s family experienced no casualties, but they were living in tents located in a field when they met with International Medical Corps’ on-the-ground partners.

The latest information from government authorities in Central Sulawesi indicates that more than 100,000 homes were either damaged or destroyed. In response to the request from the government to prioritize building more durable, temporary shelters, we made it our goal to build at least 137 shelters that could withstand at least two cyclone seasons. The design of these shelters reduces the risk of people losing their homes due to adverse weather and earthquakes by using bamboo. Additionally, our teams chose bamboo because the regular building materials were out of stock due to the massive rebuilding efforts and the flexibility of the bamboo in regards to its ability to absorb high winds.

Not only is bamboo available locally, but Nursan, also from Namo Village, explains that “bamboo is (traditionally) only used for chicken coops, goat pens, clothes lines and fences.” After attending the training, he told our partners that he came to understand the many properties of bamboo that make it an economically desirable and environmentally friendly, sustainable building material. The villagers hope that by learning this knowledge, there will be less illegal forestry as more people began to understand the environmental importance of bamboo.

International Medical Corps’ teams have been training both community leaders and heads of households how not only to build with bamboo, but also to maintain it. Dani tells us that our teams showed him that the “process of preserving the bamboo makes it last longer,” but he did not stop there. He added that, our team taught him “how to make bamboo housing so that it can provide economic benefits into the future.” Now, Dani can use his new knowledge to make a living and support his family for many years to come.

Thank you for helping International Medical Corps prioritize building shelters that are based on local needs, local materials, are safer and are more sustainable, while still in line with the local culture. Donations, like those from GlobalGiving, help us to ensure that we continue to have the ability to help people affected by disasters build back better— just like Dani and Nursan in Namo Village.

Thank you for your generous support of disaster relief, recovery and resiliency in Indonesia.