Center for Natural Disaster Studies (PSBA) UGM dispatched a Rapid Need Assessment Team consisting of 30 students to conduct data collection of urgent needs in 23 barracks in Sleman regency. The data will be delivered through an online information system that can be accessed by anyone. "This team will list the needs of the internally displaced persons residing in Sleman," said the Coordinator of Care for Merapi Team - Centre for Natural Disaster Studies (PSBA) UGM, Prof. Dr. Sudibyakto, Thursday (28/10).
The team of student volunteers also conducts a quick survey of area’s vulnerability in terms of physical and social structures, and evaluate the feasibility of space zoning. "We will record the level of feasibility of utilization of space, such as environmental conditions, houses structure, and the whole sorts of it," he said.
According to the plan, the students for the next one week will make the mapping of degree of vulnerability and damage as the result of the catastrophic eruption of Merapi. Such information will be delivered every day to the UGM station for the trial implementation of standard operating procedures (SOP) for Merapi’s disaster relief.
Sudibyakto conveyed that currently UGM, National Disaster Mitigation Agency, and DP2M of Higher Learning Directorate General are preparing SOPs for five types of disasters in Indonesia, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, floods, and landslides. "So far, there has been no implementation of the SOP in disaster management, there is only a contingency plan from each agency," he said.
Sudibyakto explained that the SOP of disaster management has not been yet applied nationally because it is still prepared by experts. It will be completed by December this year. “The SOP rules will be implemented nationally. There will be law enforcement for those who do not implement it," he said.