A 5.6-magnitude earthquake shook the Cianjur Regency, West Java, on November 21, 2022 afternoon. The earthquake killed 338 people and damaged nearly 60,000 houses, including 701 education facility units. Meanwhile, the number of displaced residents increased to nearly 115,000 people.
Therefore, Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia) launched a response through the CERDAS project, which stands for Cianjur Earthquake Response in Dignified and Accountable Support.
Through CERDAS Response, Plan Indonesia has helped 4,205 people affected by Cianjur earthquake, including 2,845 children. The activity response conducted for three months (December 6, 2022 - March 6, 2023) focused on three sectors: education, child protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
Plan Indonesia distributed 56 children's recreation packages in five villages and two schools during the initial response period for the child protection sector. Psychosocial support sessions for survivors in evacuation camps were also held.
During the recovery period, 669 child protection packages were distributed in five villages and six schools, including emergency lights, whistles, and "No-Go-Tell" cards (cards for child abuse prevention). Two training sessions were conducted for 30 junior facilitators in child psychosocial support. These facilitators then provided psychosocial support sessions to 1,343 children and people with disabilities in their respective villages.
“Since the commencement of the response, we have observed that children are the most affected by the Cianjur earthquake. For this reason, we ensure that children, especially girls, are prioritized in terms of receiving assistance and strengthening their capacity for disaster vigilance," said Plan Indonesia's CERDAS Team Leader, Zuniatmi, during the Sharing Session on CERDAS Response Lessons Learned and Outcome, in Cianjur Sub-district, West Java, on Thursday (9/3).
Meanwhile, for the education sector, Plan Indonesia distributed 491 school kits in three schools and disaster vigilance kits in ten schools. Training and strengthening activities for Comprehensive School Safety (CSS) were also conducted for education and school stakeholders, facilitators, and communities.
Lastly, for the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector, Plan Indonesia distributed 350 personal hygiene and menstrual hygiene management (MHM) packages to students in Cianjur. This assistance package was provided with a Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) scheme or Aid Coupons redeemed during the MHM and personal hygiene equipment bazaar at school.
According to the Education Coordinator of Cilaku Sub-district, Ujang Abdul Aziz, who also attended the Sharing Session on CERDAS Response Lessons Learned and Outcome, CERDAS response has helped teachers, parents, and students in Cilaku in responding to the disaster.
“On behalf of the Education Coordinator of Cilaku Sub-district, we would like to express our gratitude to Plan Indonesia for their assistance these past three months, specifically in Cilaku Sub-district. We hope Plan Indonesia will continue to serve this country and aid humanity," said Ujang.
Azfa Azami Usman, the Principal of Al Azami Special School, also expressed appreciation for the CERDAS response. In addition to non-cash assistance or logistics, Plan Indonesia assisted and strengthened disaster vigilance in CERDAS response activities at the special school.
"Considering the special needs and extra attention that our students require, this assistance is certainly remarkable," Azami said.
Sharing Session on CERDAS Response Lessons Learned and Outcome was concluded with a presentation of the results of the feedback collection conducted from December 23, 2022, to February 2, 2023.
As a result, 499 feedbacks were collected (about 13% of the total CERDAS response participants), with 97% feedback indicating gratitude, and 96% feedback indicating the suitability of the assistance to the needs, with excellent and good scores, respectively.
About CERDAS Project
Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia) launched the CERDAS project, which stands for Cianjur Earthquake Response in Dignified and Accountable Support. The targets are:
(1) Provide basic services to affected children and youth, particularly girls and young women, in the areas of child protection, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), education in emergencies, and Comprehensive School Safety through the distribution of non-food items packages (hygiene packages, menstrual hygiene management packages, school supply packages, and packages for personal protective equipment) in three schools.
(2) Collaborating with youth groups to provide psychosocial support and promote gender-based violence prevention in three child-friendly spaces.
(3) Encouraging resilient schools (integrated preparedness, continuity of education, safe and inclusive access, protection, WASH, and health, climate education) in 3 schools to promote Comprehensive School Safety for girls, boys, and other school communities.
The three-month CERDAS project will run from December 6, 2022, to March 6, 2023. Prior to this, on November 23–25 of 2022, a rapid needs assessment (RNA) was conducted.
About Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia)
Since 1969, Plan International has operated in Indonesia; in 2017, it changed its name to the Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia). We seek to advance girls' equality and the realization of children's rights. We also work with young people to enable meaningful engagement in life decisions.
Plan Indonesia, a subsidiary of Plan International Inc., runs a major child sponsorship program. In East Nusa Tenggara, Plan Indonesia has fostered 36,000 boys and girls, with five pledges to uphold their fundamental rights: the right to birth certificates, essential vaccinations, clean water, sanitation, and cleanliness, as well as education.
Plan Indonesia operates in eight provinces through seven thematic programs, including Climate Resilience Led by Youth, Disaster Preparedness and Gender Responsive Humanitarian Response, Youth Health, Elimination of Violence against Children and Youth, Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship, and Resilient Schools.
These initiatives seek to strengthen the ability of social movements to engage and focus on 3 million girls to have equal representation, equal power, and equal freedom.
For further details: plan-international.or.id
Contact person:
Muhammad Reysa
Programme Communications Specialist
muhammad.reysa@plan-international.org