Cianjur Earthquake Lesson Learnt Workshop: The Potential of IPB University Alumni is Encouraged to Improve the Quality of Humanitarian Services

The potential of IPB University and its alumni spread in various fields must be utilised to encourage the quality of humanitarian services, especially in disaster management. In addition, IPB University, including its Alumni Association, is expected to become a centre of excellence in the humanitarian field, especially disaster in Indonesia.

The two points of recommendation were read out by the Member of the Board of Trustees of the Independent Volunteer Action of the Alumni Association (ARM HA) IPB University, Ir Ali Fatoni as part of the 10 Notes and Recommendations of the Workshop ‘Learning from the Disaster Emergency Response and Recovery Activities of the Cianjur Earthquake’. The workshop was held by ARM HA IPB University at IPB Alumni Building, Bogor, (10/6).

The workshop also concluded that humanitarian activities require innovative, creative and collaborative planning and activities for quality humanitarian services and wider reach. Other recommendations highlighted the importance of adequate data and information availability as one of the keys to successful disaster management. There is also a need to invest in youth engagement in the humanitarian field, both through campus curricula and extracurricular activities.

This workshop marked the closing of a series of humanitarian missions of ARM HA IPB University in Cianjur which included 7 missions of emergency response operations and 3 recovery activities, which began 48 hours after the earthquake shook Cianjur, 21 November 2022 ago, until the closing of activities 25 May 2023.

Rector of IPB University, Prof Arif Satria delivered his remarks at the opening of the event. “I really appreciate the activities carried out by ARM HA IPB University which are very noble, because they continue to strive to provide benefits when people are in dire need,” he said.

Head of HA IPB University, Dr Walneg S Jas expressed his deepest gratitude for all the contributions, cooperation and collaboration that have been made. “Congratulations to ARM HA IPB University which continues to prepare itself in its aspiration to become a disaster institution that can become a role model at the national level,” he said.

More than 100 participants packed the workshop. In addition to administrators and volunteers, the workshop was also attended by various humanitarian agencies partnering ARM HA IPB University such as Wahana Muda Indonesia (WMI), Indonesia CARE, Harika Foundation, Darul Ikhlas Islamic Boarding School (PP), Siliwangi Islamic College (STAI) Garut and village volunteers. Also present were the Head of the Center for Disaster Studies (PSB) IPB University, Dr Doni Yusri, representatives of the Student Executive Board (BEM KM) and faculty, IPB Clinic, student activity units (UKM) and other IPB University academic community.
The Head of ARM HA IPB University, Ir Ahmad Husein, MSi appeared as a panellist along with the Executive Director of Indonesia Care, Lukman Azis Kurniawan and Vice Chairman of WMI, Budhi Setiawan. They shared their experiences during emergency response and recovery operations for the 5.6-magnitude earthquake in Cianjur, West Java.

“”Following each step in the disaster emergency response cycle is crucial to ensure effective humanitarian preparations and activities in disaster-affected areas,” said Husein, who has worked with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for more than a decade.

Lukman Azis emphasised the role of his organisation, Indonesia Care, in assisting emergency education for students in Cianjur. Together with ARM HA IPB University, Indonesia Care, among others, built two emergency classrooms at SDN Nyalindung 3 that can accommodate 100 students.

Meanwhile, Budhi Setiawan explained the service components that WMI provides from the emergency response phase to recovery. “We have a rescue team that went in as soon as the earthquake happened. In the recovery phase, WMI provides health service posts, emergency education services, construction of temporary shelters and houses of worship, and distribution of family kits,” said Budhi.

The workshop also presented several IPB University alumni who spearheaded the emergency response and recovery operations after the Cianjur earthquake. Yanti Nurdiyanti, an IPB University alumni who works in the Cianjur Regency Government, provided her house as an emergency response post for ARM HA IPB University.

“Alhamdulillah, the alumni assistance coordinated by ARM HA IPB University not only covers Cugenang Sub-district which is the centre of the disaster but also reaches other sub-districts in Cianjur,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ir Irvan Ramli, leader of PP Darul Ikhlas Cikarang, shared his experience when building a public kitchen to provide food for residents affected by the Cianjur earthquake. The public kitchen, which is supported by ARM HA IPB University, is able to serve 2,000 residents for three meals every day. “Every day we are like having a celebration,” said Irvan, who is also an alumnus of IPB University from the Faculty of Forestry batch 22.

Various questions, suggestions, inputs and experience sharing also emerged in the workshop. These experiences become a strengthening provision for ARM HA IPB University, the academic community and alumni, as well as various partner disaster volunteer organisations in order to further improve understanding, quality, performance and reach in more effective disaster management efforts in the future. (*/Rz) (IAAS/RUM)