18.01.2024

Partnership in Disaster Management

Exchange in small groups is an important part of the workshop. Photos by: Susanne Seiler, UEM

Participants and UEM staff involved in Yogyakarta. Photo by: Susanne Seiler, UEM

In case of need, "Prayer Alerts" are just as much part of UEM's work as financial aid, or workshops like this one.

From 15 to 23 November, 17 participants met for a workshop in Yogyakarta. The title of the workshop was "Partnership in Disaster Management". It is the second workshop on this topic. The first one took place in October 2023, in cooperation with the member churches of the Africa region.

The location for the workshop was chosen on purpose. 21 km from the seminar centre is the Merapi volcano, which last erupted in 2021. The aim was to learn together, exchange ideas and network, always with reference to the local context. "Many of us are pastors. Disaster management is completely new to me. I'm here to be prepared," said one of the participants. Therefore, the workshop programme also included a trip to the volcano and the community of Kaliurang / Turgo Sleman.

How do we define a disaster? What strategies can the local churches develop? How can we support each other? The participants exchanged views on the current challenges in the local context in group work. This was followed by inputs from speakers about their perspectives on disaster management.

Dr Raditya Jati, Deputy Minister for Systems and Strategies, spoke about "Indonesian Government Policies on Disaster Management". He presented government strategies and measures in the event of disasters, including the climate catastrophe. The latest development is an app that residents in crisis regions can download onto their smartphones to quickly share warnings and information.

Prof Gerrith Singigh is a lecturer at the UKDW* in Yogyakarta. His lecture on "Theological Reflection on Social and Natural Disaster" led to an intensive exchange and many questions: How can we as a church effectively protect people with and without disabilities in the event of a disaster? How can we respond to the questions and doubts of faith of Christians who are affected by a natural disaster, such as a volcanic eruption?

In his opinion, God is not the Almighty who can be held responsible for all disasters. We as humans, he says, bear the risk of life. For far too long, theology has excluded natural phenomena from its theories and focussed on human beings. Furthermore, catastrophes could only be overcome interreligiously. He warned against Christians in particular focussing too much on themselves and neglecting the exchange with other religions, especially on this topic.

And what support can the UEM provide? Dyah Krismawati, head of the Asia and Germany regions and member of the UEM board, names numerous support measures together with the member churches: 

Joint educational programmes, such as this disaster workshop, invite people to learn and network together

Member churches affected by disasters can apply for emergency aid projects at the regional offices. These emergency calls are sent to all members - financial support is provided quickly, with little bureaucracy and in a spirit of solidarity: South-South, South-North and North-South.

Parallel to the financial support, the UEM sends out so-called "Prayer Alerts" to its member churches. They call for joint prayer for the people in the affected region.

Member churches that are frequently affected by disasters in their regions receive personnel support as part of the UEM's South-South, South-North and North-South personnel exchange programmes.

At the end of the programme, the participants are better prepared for emergencies - but united in the hope that they will never have to use their knowledge.

*UKDW = Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (Christian University 'Ambassador of Dialogue')