Most Indonesia earthquake victims were in school, says Plan Int’l, as it steps up support

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Jakarta, 22 November 2022— An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 occurred in Cianjur Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia, on Monday (21/11) at 01.21 PM Jakarta time, resulting in 103 deaths. Most of the victims were children, who at the time of the disaster were in schools, madrasas, and Islamic boarding schools.

Plan International Indonesia immediately deployed an emergency response team on Tuesday (22/11) to distribute initial assistance, as well as conduct a rapid assessment to identify children’s needs in disaster situations.

“First of all, our deepest condolences to the residents affected by the earthquake based in Cianjur, especially the child victims. As an institution that focuses on striving children’s rights and equality for girls, we are also moving to help residents affected by disasters by deploying a team and distributing aid,” said Dini Widiastuti, Executive Director of Plan Indonesia.

Assistance included hygiene kit packages for boys, menstrual hygiene and health packages for girls, as well as food and mineral water for affected children and families.

“After getting more accurate data from the field team conducting a rapid assessment, we will be able to map further the needs of children, both girls and boys, in a disaster situation like this,” continued Widiastuti.

“We will identify the impact of the disaster and their specific needs including care services for children who have lost caregivers, psychosocial services, child-friendly temporary shelter, temporary education during evacuation, services for protecting children from violence in disaster situations, as well as other basic services such as the need for clean water and personal hygiene equipment,” Widiastuti said.

According to the latest BNPB data, Tuesday (11/22), 25 people were still reported missing, 362 people were injured from mild to severe, 3,137 houses were damaged with light, moderate, and severe damage, and 7,060 displaced people.

Widiastuti also expressed his concern about the large number of children who were victims of the Cianjur earthquake disaster. Furthermore, he explained, most of Indonesia’s territory is prone to natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, forest fires, volcanic eruptions, and so on. Meanwhile, disaster events can occur at any time. If events occur in the morning, afternoon and evening, children are the most vulnerable to be affected, including groups with disabilities and women. This is similar to what happened in the earthquake in Cianjur last Monday.

“In disaster-prone areas, such as in Cianjur, at 13.00, especially in rural areas, children are generally concentrated in schools, madrasas and Islamic boarding schools. Meanwhile, the elderly, disabled and women were at home. Unlike the case with men who are generally in the fields, rice fields, or working outdoors. Therefore, children, along with the disabled, the elderly and women, are more vulnerable to being affected by disasters,” said Widiastuti.

For this reason, he continued, Plan Indonesia urges the government and all relevant parties to strengthen the implementation of programs on disaster preparedness through schools and community institutions, especially in areas identified as disaster-prone, such as in Cianjur. In addition, it is important to ensure that schools and buildings in these vulnerable areas are disaster-resistant. The urban nexus and disaster resilient school programs, which so far have been initiated by various social institutions, including Plan Indonesia, can be prioritized, replicated and strengthened by the government.

About Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia)
Plan International has been working in Indonesia since 1969 and officially transformed
into a national foundation, namely Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia), in 2017. We aim to strive for children’s rights and equality for girls.

Together with youth groups and activists, we attempt to ensure youth meaningful
participation in decision making that has impact to the fulfillment of children’s rights
and equality for girls.We also mobilise resources with partners from private sector, donors, philanthropic foudation to individual donor to make a wider impact for Indonesian children.

Media contacts:

Muhammad Burhanuddin
085692441525
muhamad.burhanudin@plan-international.org

Most Indonesia earthquake victims were in school, says Plan Int’l, as it steps up support
Source: Philippines Legacy PH