Palang Merah Indonesia continue to assist the government and communities in disaster risk reduction (DRR) program in Indonesia. PMI in partnership with IFRC and Zurich Insurance is developing, test and implementing scalable and innovative solutions with a focus on risk assessment and impact measurement. The partnership will also develop knowledge and influence the outcome of disaster risk reduction policies to strengthen community resilience. This community flood resilience project is rolling out in three rivers (Ciliwung, Citarum and Bengawan Solo), covering upstream to downstream. Bojonegoro, East Java, a city at Bengawan Solo watershed is one of 21 communities involved in this project.

The main activity in this project is to strengthen the capacity of communities in facing the threat of flood. PMI encourages the formation of village volunteers (Community-based Action Team), formulate of village regulations that support mitigation efforts and training for the community.

On Sunday, 2 October 2016, PMI organized Kitchen Management Training for 20 members of village volunteer. PMI Secretary of Bojonegoro Branch, Sukohawidodo explained that public kitchen management training is part of Risk Reduction Plan (RRP). Risk Reduction Plan is a result of community mitigation under Community Flood Resilience Project. “This is one of the disaster risk reduction measures in the form of providing food during a flood,” said Sukohawidodo. Public kitchen management training will provide knowledge and equip community. The training is expected to increase the ability of communities to provide healthy food. Provision of healthy food will reduce the risk of adverse event after the disaster.

Floods cause more damage worldwide than any other type of natural disaster and cause some of the largest economic, social and humanitarian losses. Indonesia itself has undergone 141 notable disasters between 2005 and 2014, with an estimated financial burden of about USD 11 billion. There is growing recognition that alternative and improved approaches are needed to meet this complex and growing needs. Achieving improved humanitarian outcomes requires collaborative effort between different and new actors to bring about different thinking and solutions to these complex challenges.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, along with its partners seeks to discover and support new approaches to addressing humanitarian and development needs, ensuring that local and affected communities are driving the process. This is embodied  through the innovation challenge – Flood Resilience 2016. This challenge seeks to identify and support local innovators in Indonesia.

For more information, contact: Paulus.Sulaksono@ifrc.org