Flood Preparedness Program
(Baca Versi Bahasa Indonesia)
BACKGROUND
In this modern day, the need for more protection of the environment and natural assets is a must. Survival of mankind depends on the choices made today. Mismanagement on nature and environment leads to significant natural resources extinction. It also results in high levels of risk and frequency of disasters such as life-threatening and destructive flood events and landslides.
As effects of topographical condition and human activities’ impact, DKI Jakarta has become a hazard-prone area (natural and man-made). Among these, floods are becoming more frequent. This is partly due to the numerous rivers that flow through the capital and other physical characteristics such as extensive low lying areas. However, among the contributing factors are human settlement and the management of the watershed. Flood plains and retention basins being converted for housing/industrial purposes and high-density slum areas encroaches river banks, making it difficult to ensure proper environmental management. Efforts must be sustained and increased in most areas to reverse this trend.
To overcome the flood problem in Jakarta the grassroots level must further be involved. Strengthening the capacities of the local authorities and community to be more resilient to flood related risks is essential. In the process the government and community can work together to be prepared and to prevent such occurrences in the future.
OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF PROGRAM
Objective:
Strengthen local level initiatives and capacities on integrated disaster risk management in three flood-prone slum areas of DKI Jakarta.
Scope of Program
- Increasing effectiveness of disaster risk management at local level, through better participatory planning/monitoring & evaluation, capacities development, coordination and small scale mitigation.
- Promoting risk knowledge and public awareness leads to better response capacity to floods and other extreme events
- More public safety and reduced losses at community level through integrated and people-centre early warning systems.
- Increased risk knowledge of the selected communities through the survey of the physical, economic and social Capacities & Vulnerabilities relating to flood disasters.
- Provide facilitation and training to increase the community’s and local authorities flood preparedness.
- Facilitate coordination & collaboration between stakeholders at Kelurahan level through coordination meetings, pre-determined disaster management procedures and/or emergency plans.
- Promote more public awareness and campaign on disaster related issues for all including the younger generations (UNISDR 2006-2007 Strategy: “Disaster Reduction begins at school"
- Facilitate the development of an information system, which includes an integrated and effective end to end early warning system.
- Participate in increased networking efforts among stakeholders to promote disaster risk management at the local, provincial, national and international level.
Selected communities share the following common criteria: they are considered as slums areas and flood-prone, characterized by poor to very poor settlement quality and inhabited by the poorest segment of the population, including at high-risk groups such as children, women and elder. The hazard threats they face are numerous: floods, urban fires and epidemics (dengue and other diseases).
From the 267 Kelurahans that compose DKI Jakarta, the ACF program is focusing on three Kelurahans: Kampung Melayu and Cipinang Besar Utara in the East Jakarta Municipality and Penjaringan in North Jakarta Municipality. Through this initiative, ACF hopes to provide concrete experience and tools that will benefit the other hazard-prone areas of the capital.
Writer : Eka Rianta
