(A307) Disaster Task Force's Management Support at Emergency Response Phase in the Merapi Eruption November 2010

Abstract

Background

Merapi, the most active volcano in the world, erupted on the 26th October 2010 at 17.02, and followed by several eruptions. The biggest eruption was on the 5th of November 2010. Damages were catastrophic: 386 people killed, and more than $400 million lost. A wide area of fertile lands and settlements were destroyed which resulted in more than 200.000 refugees. This disaster had impact to 2 provinces and 6 districts. At the emergency phase, a special task force was established by central government of Indonesia. This paper aims to evaluate the task force and the role of its management support during the acute phase in the disaster.

Method

an input and process evaluation of task force work was implemented.

Results

The input evaluation shows that the task force members for emergency response came from central, provincial, district government employees, universities and non government organisation members. The financial sources are from public and private funding. The activities process of task force in forms of health response command system, temporary information system, communication and telecommunication system, supporting the volunteer groups, managing the refugees camps, implementing surveillance system, and backed up the local district health officers. There were problems of programs coordination and channelling the budget from national treasury due to the multiple eruptions. Most of these problems were solved by a management support team for the task force.

Conclusion

The multiple strikes of Merapi eruption needs better human resources management and financial support. During Merapi eruption, it is proved that a management support for emergency response task force is important. This management support allowed better control and coordination of available resources.