Sumatra Earthquake
This page is also available in Arabic
Working for peace in Sumatera Barat's troubled community
The Humanitarian Forum Indonesia (HFI) has tackled some difficult issues after the Padang Earthquake in September 2009. Following the earthquake, a number of different groups of humanitarian actors have worked in the region, including local and international organisations (both faith based and secular), UN agencies and government response units.
Whilst all these actors had important roles to play, the difficulties lay in the lack of communication between them and with the local community. And without proper channels of communication, the reconstruction and rehabilitation effort was hindered by duplication of effort and miscommunication.
HFI plays a vital role in bringing these actors together. They have been at the centre of the reconstruction programme, holding regular meetings with local government and community representatives and international aid agencies in the region. Through bringing different organisations together, HFI has ensured a higher standard of response, reaching more people whose lives were devastated by the earthquake and enabling the most effective use of resources. They have ensured that the bigger INGOs are aware of local needs, customs and practices, and that local organisations are heard and included. Meanwhile, HFI offers small local organisations the opportunity to become more accountable, to develop good working practices and to work with an awareness of international standards of humanitarian response. HFI's liaising role between government and non-government actors has ensured that in difficult circumstances, different groups have remained in regular communication, and have been able to cooperate fully. The result is that the relief effort has reached far more victims, and has been quicker than it would otherwise have been.
Strings attached?
As well as the primary concerns of responding to a quake of such magnitude, HFI became aware of the breakdowns in communication between some aid workers and the local community on religious grounds.
It was reported that the local community saw some aid workers as proselytising, which was causing considerable anger. Proselytising can be a major obstacle to reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. It‘s vitally important beneficiaries do not feel there are ‘strings attached' to the aid they receive. Offering (or being seen to offer) aid conditionally contravenes the IFRC Code of Conduct, which stipulates that aid must be given without adverse distinction of any kind, and that the humanitarian imperative comes first. Proselytising by faith based organisations creates barriers between the humanitarian actors and the people they seek to help. It can cause resentment and be seen as a threat to local customs.
As a leading player in bridge building and cooperation and cooperation, one of HFI's main areas of work is to tackle such breakdowns in communication. Their weekly meetings with NGOs and local Government representatives open avenues to dialogue and better partnerships. As such this issue is close to their hearts.
Bridging the gaps
In a bid to head off harmful tensions, HFI gathered together local civic and religious leaders and NGO heads and hosted several meetings, bringing the voices of the local community to the fore and enabling all humanitarian actors in the region to work with greater cultural understanding and sensitivity. They held meetings in Jakarta and Padang, with bodies such as Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) - the Indonesian Clerics council, UN OCHA and other aid agencies in the region.
HFI and WVI (World Vision Indonesia) hosted meetings culminating in a highly successful workshop on 16 December, attended by over 40 participants from international and national NGOs, universities, and community and religious leaders. Speakers from MUI, HFI, and the local Disaster Management Board were joined by leaders from the local indigenous community. The participants acknowledged the vital role local leaders play in the reconstruction and rehabilitation effort, and agreed a course of action which involved all stakeholders on an equal footing. It was agreed that local knowledge should be shared with all humanitarian actors to enable them to work in the most effective and appropriate manner, and that different organisations would work more closely with each other, creating stronger networks.
HFI director, Hening Parlan said, "It's vital that local expertise and wisdom has a voice in the reconstruction, and that dialogue is open and continuous. By communicating effectively with each other, we can overcome so many misunderstandings and misconceptions. HFI is committed to facilitating good communications and ensuring that local communities and international agencies can work together in peace and cooperation. There is so much to do in terms of rehabilitation and reconstruction - cultural misunderstandings need to be tackled before they impede aid reaching those in need. "
