Disaster Management Disability Service Unit for Inclusive Resilience in East Java

The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of East Java Province inaugurated the establishment of the Disaster Management Disability Service Unit (ULD PB) through a launch held at the Movenpick Hotel Surabaya on Tuesday (25/6). Through this ULD PB, disability groups in East Java now have the space to be more actively involved in developing knowledge, capacity, and experience across the entire disaster management cycle.

Present at the launch was the Director of Preparedness of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Pangarso Suryotomo, Assistant for Government and Community Welfare of the East Java Provincial Government (Pemprov), Benny Sampirwanto, Chief Executive of the East Java Provincial BPBD, Gatot Soebroto, Consulate General of Australia in Surabaya, Anthea Griffin, SIAP SIAGA Program Team Leader, Lucy Dickinson, elected member of DPD RI for the 2024-2029 period, Dr. Lia Istifhama,  Head of the East Java Provincial Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection, and Population Office, Dr. Tri Wahyu Liswati, M.Pd, and representatives of people with disabilities who became the East Java PB ULD Mobilisation Team.

ULD PB East Java was established after going through a series of preparation processes, which were the result of cooperation between the East Java Provincial BPBD and organisations of people with disabilities supported by the SIAP SIAGA Program. The goal is to provide services to fulfil the rights and roles of people with disabilities in disaster management. Institutionally, the East Java PB ULD is attached to the structure of the East Java BPBD and is a part of the implementation of East Java BPBD programs and activities. It also helps carry out functions related to disability inclusion services in disaster management.

In addition to the symbolic ULD PB launching ceremony, this event also carried out ULD PB work program socialisation and an interactive talk show themed “Strengthening the Role of Women and People with Disabilities in Disaster Management”. The resource persons in the interactive talk included Pangarso Suryotomo, elected member of DPD RI for the 2024-2029 period, Lia Istifhama, Junior Disaster Analyst Expert of BPBD East Java, Dadang Iqwandi, Head of Social Rehabilitation Division of the East Java Provincial Social Office, Muchaman Arif Ardiansyah, Head of the East Java Provincial Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Office (P3AK), Tri Wahyu Liswati, and Head of Mental Health Association who is also a member of the East Java PB ULD Work Team, Saiful Anam.

The Commitment of East Java

Benny Sampirwanto stated that this unit will provide literacy, education, and capacity building to people with disabilities in disaster preparedness and facilitate a disability complaint and referral system in the event of a disaster. Benny added that the disability group is vulnerable, but when a disaster occurs, people do not think of them. This unit will ensure equality in the fulfilment of the rights and roles of people with disabilities in disaster management. “This ULD PB is a manifestation of the East Java Provincial Government’s commitment to comprehensive disaster management efforts,” he said.

Anthea Griffin appreciated the East Java Provincial Government’s commitment. According to her, the establishment of ULD PB is a form of care for disability groups, especially in disaster situations.

Gatot Soebroto conveyed that in East Java, 14 potential disaster threats will impact the entire community, including disability groups. “So planning, facilities, and training must be adjusted. For example, an early warning systemthat is adapted to the condition of their disabilities,” he said.

From 2023 to May 2024, there have been 254 disasters in East Java. Meanwhile, based on data on E-Disability in East Java Province, nearly 17 thousand people have various types of disabilities. As a first step, the data collection from E-disability has been combined with the East Java Disaster Vulnerability Map, which obtained a map of the distribution of disabilities and disability types in disaster-prone areas from all 38 districts and cities in East Java.

Comprehensive Involvement

In disaster situations, the limitations of disability groups make them vulnerable. The available information, services, and resources are often not friendly to their conditions, potentially interfering with their rights to basic needs.

There are three services in ULD PB. First, the management of disability data in a disaggregated and integrated manner to determine the distribution of people with disabilities and their various disability types in disaster-prone locations. The results will be a reference for disaster management data in East Java. Second, study and development to strengthen inclusive disaster management programs. This study includes competency-based disability capacity mapping and the need to strengthen inclusive PB programs throughout the entire PB cycle. Third, inclusive Disaster Communication, Information, and Education (KIE) and managing the complaint and referral system in disaster situations.

The Head of the East Java Mental Health Association, Saiful Anam, admitted that disability groups have not been involved in the disaster management process. “Many people with disabilities are neglected or left behind when disasters occur. Now, in this ULD, our friends with disabilities have even been involved since its formation,” he said.

Saiful hopes that a new paradigm can be built through this ULD PB. People with disabilities are not objects but subjects in disaster management, which means they are actively involved in disaster management in the planning, design, implementation, and monitoring evaluation processes. Moreover, at least two regulations have mandated this, namely Law No. 8 of 2016 concerning People with Disabilities and BNPB Head Regulation (Perka) No. 14 of 2014 concerning the Handling, Protection, and Participation of People with Disabilities in Disaster Management.