President Jokowi’s Visit to the BIN Post Receives a Positive Response to Earthquake Survivors 

By: Ratih Safira Utami )*

In the last two weeks, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has visited residents affected by the Cianjur earthquake for the fourth time.

During his working visit this time, President Jokowi, who departed by land vehicle from the Bogor Palace at around 7:30 a.m., first visited the Earthquake Disaster Post built by the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) in Cijedil Village, Cugenang District, Cianjur Regency.           

            Arriving at the command post, Jokowi was greeted by children singing ‘Manuk Dadali’. Dozens of refugee children who have been in the shelter for almost three weeks have participated in trauma healing activities at the BIN Command Post. In that place the President distributed food and also aid to the refugees.

            During his visit, the President also said that today housing stimulant assistance to residents and heirs of victims of the Cianjur earthquake disaster some time ago would begin to be given. The assistance that will be given depends on the level of damage to the house.

            The President also hopes that the residents whose houses were affected by the earthquake can start cleaning their respective houses, so that later they can speed up the rebuilding process.

            In addition, the President also said that the TNI and Polri would participate in helping the process of building houses for residents affected by the earthquake. 

            His party hopes that residents can start cleaning their homes, assisted by the TNI and Polri to rebuild.

            Previously, the President also emphasized that his arrival in Cianjur was aimed at ensuring that the construction of houses for affected residents who were relocated could begin on the day Jokowi made his third visit.

            By providing assistance for the damaged houses, the President hopes that people can start building their houses.

            The President also ensured that the government had prepared a system for channeling this assistance, both directly and through savings.

            According to Jokowi, at least 56,000 houses were affected by the earthquake. Jokowi hopes that the construction of damaged residents’ houses can begin and be completed soon.

            56 thousand houses is certainly not a small amount. His party, of course, wants a settlement as soon as possible without time restrictions and as soon as possible because the people are already raining and cold in the tents.

            On this occasion, Jokowi also greeted Afikah, a grade II elementary school student who was also a victim of the Cianjur earthquake at the Cijedil BIN Command Post.

            Seeing Afikah’s bandaged leg, Jokowi prayed for Afikah so that her leg would heal quickly.

Jokowi has also visited the Sukamaju 1 State Elementary School (SDN) in Benjot Village, in Cugenang District, which is one of the schools affected by the earthquake in Cianjur Regency.

The former Mayor of Surakarta stated that repairing educational infrastructure, especially the rehabilitation of school buildings, both elementary and secondary schools which were heavily damaged, was urgently needed to support students’ teaching and learning activities.

Survey results from the PUPR Ministry show that as of November 29 2022, damage to education infrastructure due to the earthquake in Cianjur Regency was 245 schools spread across 7 Districts.

            It was recorded that 131 schools were severely damaged, 34 schools were moderately damaged and 80 schools were slightly damaged. Handling is prioritized for schools with severe levels of damage.

The government has also ensured the rehabilitation and reconstruction of various social facility buildings (fasos) and public facilities (fasum) affected by the Cianjur earthquake, such as hospitals, mosques and health centers. Construction of these facilities began to be carried out in line with the handling of the emergency response phase.

                  On the other hand, the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) is trying to make recovery for the victims of the Cianjur earthquake, especially children, namely through trauma healing.          

                  The Trauma Healing service is in collaboration with the Akasia Foundation and the Bandung Children’s Love Foundation (YCAB). Trauma healing activities are expected to relieve the trauma of the earthquake evacuees, especially children.

                  Dozens of children who were victims of the Cianjur earthquake took part in trauma healing activities at the BIN Assistance Post, on the Labuan-Cianjur Cross Road. They laughed heartily after hearing stories from BIN personnel. Apart from storytelling sessions, there are also various games to relieve fear, anxiety and trauma from the children affected by the Cianjur earthquake.

                  Prabawa Ajie as BIN Spokesperson stated, apart from fairy tales and games, there was also an invitation to read to children who were victims of the Cianjur earthquake. The participants who can answer questions from the MC will get prizes in the form of story books. 

                  BIN can actually be said to be experienced in providing assistance in the form of logistics for victims affected by earthquakes. This happened a few months ago when it happened in West Pasaman, West Sumatra. Not only did he provide assistance, but his party also continued to work on how the community could carry out normal activities.

                  Jokowi’s visit to the BIN Post in Cianjur has made the progress of handling aid faster, Jokowi is able to provide appropriate and measurable earthquake handling.

)* The author is a contributor to Persada Institute