Camaraderie Village, Harmony in Merapi

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA (BAH)

Sick residents were taken to the Muntilan Hospital Emergency Room, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Tuesday (26/10/2020). The collaboration of all elements of society when Merapi spewed hot clouds succeeded in saving many residents on the slopes of Merapi.

The commotion of evacuation during the eruption of Mount Merapi in 2010 became a turning point for improving disaster mitigation in Magelang regency, Central Java. Three years later, the concept of the camaraderie village was introduced. Now, a double challenge awaits, namely saving residents from both the eruption and COVID-19.

Winarti, 38, a resident of Keningar village, Dukun district, Magelang regency, Central Java, followed advice to evacuate to Ngrajek village, Mungkid district, Sunday (11/8/2020). Nine months into pregnancy, she joined 130 other evacuees because her residence was in the danger zone of the eruption of Mount Merapi.

There are two evacuation locations in Ngrajek village, namely the SDN 1 Ngrajek state elementary school building to accommodate pregnant women and children under 5, and the village head\'s house to accommodate elderly residents and people with disabilities.

Also read: Health Protocols not yet Concurrent

Upon arrival at Ngrajek, Winarti received a warm welcome from local residents and village officials. They were ready to help take her to the nearest delivery place for when the time for delivery was near.

"Every day, village officials always ask about my condition. I am told to report when there are signs of giving birth,” said Winarti.

Even though she was not in her own village, Winarti admitted that she did not lack support. She viewed the residents of Ngrajek village like her own relatives.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Refugee children participate in play activities guided by volunteers in the field of Klakah Village, Selo, Boyolali, Central Java, Monday (16/11/2020). Reading books, toys, and educational and fun activities are some of the things they need to reduce boredom during their stay in the shelter.

Sincerity in helping residents who are displaced from the danger of eruption has become part of the character of most residents on the slopes of Merapi. They had worked hand in hand to prepare a place for evacuation.

"Not only preparing 14 evacuation sites for residents on the slopes of Merapi, we have also prepared locations to accommodate their 1,200 livestock. By doing so, we hope they can be calmer living in the evacuation centers,” said Eko Apriyanto, a resident of Deyangan village.

Solidarity among residents was felt after the introduction of the camaraderie village concept in disaster mitigation. This concept pairs villages in the danger zone with villages that are safe.

Also read: Mt. Merapi Eruption Predicted to Not Be As Big As in 2010

"Now there is a concept of the camaraderie village, so it is easy to evacuate early because the evacuees already know where to go when they evacuate. In the past (2010), there were often family members who were missing separately because they fled to different locations,” said Titi, the evacuation coordinator of Keningar village.

The idea of the camaraderie village first emerged from the evaluation of Merapi eruption disaster management in 2010. At that time, Merapi erupted when the government and residents had not had an established any protocol for evacuation.

Now there is a concept of the camaraderie village, so it is easy to evacuate early because the evacuees already know where to go when they evacuate.

"At that time, residents from the slopes immediately descended in search for a safe place, without a definite goal. The evacuation was also carried out in a hurry because of the lack of preparation,” said the head of the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency of Magelang regency, Edy Susanto.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

A number of refugees, especially women and children, rest in front of the building for the evacuation shelter in Tlogolele Village, Selo, Boyolali, Central Java, Saturday (11/14/2020). The refugee camp is currently inhabited by 275 residents who fled their homes on the slopes of Mount Merapi.

The concept, initiated in 2013, has undergone simulations so that residents who may have to evacuate and evacuation sites are ready.

Thus far, there are 19 villages in Magelang regency and two villages in Boyolali regency that have been paired with 42 safe villages in the regency. The cooperation between vulnerable villages and safe villages is manifested in a memorandum of understanding.

"The camaraderie village is basically just a modification of local wisdom. From the beginning, residents from the slopes of Merapi have fled to the villages below. Now we simply determine where they descend to be more organized,” said Edy.

Also read: Evacuation of Residents Prepared

The concept of the camaraderie village is intertwined not only when there is a disaster. As stated by Titi, the get-together between Keningar and Ngrajek residents is fostered continuously by inviting each other\'s representatives every time they hold social events.

Mitigation awareness

Head of the Center for Disaster Mitigation Studies at Veteran National Development University (UPN) Yogyakarta Eko Teguh Paripurno said that most residents living around Mount Merapi were already aware of disaster mitigation. This is because they have had the experience of dealing with several eruptions of Merapi in the past.

"If the readiness is to understand risks, monitor dangers, disseminate information, and carry out evacuations, almost all residents on the slopes of Merapi understand," he said.

KOMPAS/NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO

The elderly who took refuge in the evacuation barracks, Glagaharjo Village Hall, Cangkringan District, Sleman Regency, DIY, Saturday (11/14/2020). They were evacuated because the area was a danger zone for the eruption of Merapi.

The head of the Merapi Alert Community, Rambat Wahyudi, said that one form of growing citizen awareness was seen from the ease of evacuating vulnerable groups. There are almost no rejections. The residents understand very well the threat of eruption danger.

"People are aware that eruptions and disasters cannot be predicted. Unpredictable. Therefore, they evacuate without force,” said Rambat.

Residents also always monitor information from the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) regarding the volcanic activity that is taking place. In addition, according to Eko, residents also understand the natural signs that might indicate it is time to evacuate. They have preparations before evacuation, such as preparing vehicles for evacuation and conducting patrols.

The implementation of the health protocols still needs to be encouraged not only among residents, but also volunteers and officials.

Eko is of the opinion that what needs to be considered at this time is the implementation of health protocols in the process of evacuation and at the evacuation centers. This is because the health protocols are something relatively new, so they must be continuously explained to the residents.

"The implementation of the health protocols still needs to be encouraged not only among residents, but also volunteers and officials," said Eko.

Also read: Residents Start to Evacuate

The caretaker of Mount Merapi from the Yogyakarta Palace, Mas Wedana Suraksohargo, 54, also said that residents around Merapi understood the potential dangers during an increase in volcanic activity. The caretaker, who is familiarly called Asih, said that this awareness was growing because people havd been living on the slopes of Merapi for generations and experienced several eruptions.

"Because of the experience in 2010, without being ordered or being told, the community has realized themselves. They know that the Merapi eruption can be dangerous,” said Asih, the son of the late Mbah Maridjan, the caretaker of Mount Merapi who died during the 2010 eruption. ( HRS/ NCA/ MEL)