Marana Fishermen are Ready to Face Disaster
Marana people in Donggala regency, Central Sulawesi believe that they can learn from the disaster and prepare for it. During the earthquake and tsunami recovery phase on September 28 2018, Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI) supported by Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) from the British Government provided Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) assistance to 130 fishermen in Donggala Regency to prepare for possible disasters in the future.
One of the efforts made to support DRR is to map the risks in fishing activities, including conducting simulations for handling drowning victims at sea. In collaboration with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) in Donggala regency, this simulation was attended by 48 fishermen in Marana Village. One of the fishermen who participated in this activity was Nurdin. The head of the family, who daily provided his family from fishing, was enthusiastic to participate in simulations. He hoped that if something bad happens while fishing, he would already have the knowledges to save himself and his colleagues.
“I am very happy to participate in this training. We, the fishermen in Marana Village, Sindue district, Donggala regency also thank Basarnas and BPBD for this training,” said Nurdin after participating in a simulation with his colleagues off the coast.
The simulation, which was carried out in mid-March 2020, focused on how to save drowned fishermen, including how to give first aid. It was a new knowledge for Nurdin and his colleagues.
“We are learning new knowledge. We did not really know how to save ourselves when drowning in the sea. After this training, we know what to do to help ourselves and our friends. Thank you WVI, Basarnas and BPBD,” Nurdin closed the conversation.
During the two years of the earthquake and tsunami response carried out by WVI in Central Sulawesi, DRR efforts have been integrated into various intervention sector. Accumulatively, the special beneficiaries of DRR activities are 1,350 people. Meanwhile, a Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction module has been developed and 9 disaster risk assessments have been developed at the village level. A total of 1,046 people have also participated in capacity building activities on DRR and 1,300 people participated in disaster simulations.
Written by Rena Tanjung, Communications Officer, Wahana Visi Indonesia
