As a disaster-prone country, Indonesia needs effective strategies and policies for disaster risk reduction to minimize the damage caused by natural calamities. To address this, students from the Master’s programs in Public Health (MPH) and Occupational Health and Safety (K3) at the Faculty of Public Health (FPH), Universitas Indonesia (UI), collaborated to organize the SEMOL FPH UI Series 11 webinar titled “Building a Disaster-Resilient Indonesia: Reducing Disaster Risks Through Government & Governance.” The event was held on Saturday, June 8, 2024, and featured four distinguished speakers from different fields to provide a holistic perspective on disaster management.
The keynote speaker, Prof. Drs. Bambang Wispriyono, Apt., Ph.D., a Professor at FPH UI, emphasized the crucial role of institutions in disaster risk reduction. “Indonesia is a disaster-prone country, experiencing floods, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and more. Addressing these challenges requires effective governance that encourages communities to be disaster-prepared. It also requires the commitment and cooperation of various stakeholders, not just the government,” said Prof. Bambang.
Drs. Pangarso Suryotomo, Director of the BNPB Preparedness Directorate, discussed strategies for building national resilience in the face of disasters. “We all know Indonesia is vulnerable to disasters. If we do nothing, communities will continue to suffer, and the damage from disasters will only increase. Therefore, the goal of disaster management is to protect the entire nation of Indonesia,” explained Drs. Pangarso. He outlined Indonesia’s Disaster Minimum Service Standards (SPM), which include disaster-prone information, prevention and preparedness measures, as well as rescue and evacuation efforts. However, he emphasized that disaster management is a collective responsibility, involving not just the government but also academics, the private sector, the media, and communities. “Universities can contribute to disaster resilience by innovating ways to reduce disaster risks, monitoring and evaluating disaster response efforts, and providing recommendations to both the government and the public,” added Drs. Pangarso.
Prof. Benjamin Horton, Director of the Earth Observatory at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, then shared his insights on the impact of global warming on the planet. “The world is in a critical situation. At the 2005 Paris Agreement, world leaders agreed to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C to avoid significant changes. Now, as we’ve violated that agreement, natural disasters are happening around the globe. Every day, we break temperature records, causing the planet’s temperature to keep rising,” explained Prof. Horton. He stressed that the current temperature is already dangerous for human health, with the summer of 2023 marking the hottest temperatures in the past 2,000 years. Therefore, the global population must commit to preserving natural resources as carbon sinks and reducing carbon emissions.
Dr. Evi Widowati, S.K.M., M.Kes., a lecturer in Public Health at Semarang State University, discussed building disaster preparedness through education. Children are particularly vulnerable to disasters, accidents, and violence. However, schools are still not safe and child-friendly environments. Data shows that 63% of disaster-related damage affects educational facilities. Dr. Evi emphasized the need for safety education in schools, starting from an early age. “In schools, students are more emotionally, socially, and culturally conditioned, making schools ideal for instilling values. Safety education should not just be delivered through lectures but integrated into the existing education system. Therefore, not only the students will learn, but teachers will also be educated,” said Dr. Evi.
The final speaker, Ir. Subkhan, MPSDA., Chairman of the QHSE Forum for State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) and President Director of Waskita Jawa Toliroad, offered an industrial perspective on disaster management. “No company is immune to disaster risks. Every operation or activity poses potential dangers. If these risks are not properly managed, they can lead to disasters such as floods, tsunamis, droughts, and intangible hazards like health risks, environmental pollution, and psychological stress,” explained Ir. Subkhan. He outlined several strategies for industries in Indonesia to reduce disaster risks, such as prioritizing disaster risk reduction at the national level, implementing early warning systems with integrated management, utilizing existing knowledge, addressing the root causes of disaster risks, and strengthening preparedness at all organizational levels. The goal is for Indonesian industries to become resilient to disasters.
The webinar highlighted the importance of a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to disaster resilience, emphasizing the role of governance, education, industry, and global cooperation in mitigating disaster risks. (WR)