About
This page is dedicated by RDI to record the knowledge management regarding disaster
displacement issues in Indonesia. Indonesia's location at the confluence of 3 major tectonic
plates and the Pacific ring of fire makes it particularly vulnerable to natural-induced
disasters, such as erupting mountains, earthquakes, and tsunamis. Its geographical location
on the equator has the potential for rain throughout the year, resulting in the vulnerability of
floods and landslides. On the other hand, Indonesia as a developing country cannot be
separated from the phenomenon of urbanization. Rapid urbanization can have both positive
and negative impacts. There are about 110 million people or 42 percent of the population in
60 cities in Indonesia threatened and affected by natural-induced disaster (Gunawan et al,
2015). This number can continue to grow due to urban population growth, changes in land
use from green to build up area, the impact of climate change, and the increasingly
widespread land level decline.
In addition, Indonesia's geographical location on the equator has the potential for rain
throughout the year, resulting in the vulnerability of floods and landslides. Based on the
2020 Indonesian Population Census, there are 56.7% of Indonesia's population living in
urban areas (BPS, 2020). In 2020, natural-induced disasters in Indonesia resulted in
705,000 displacements with an average of 378,000 people at risk of displacement. The
number of internally displaced people who had to relocate due to the disaster was 161,000
(Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, 2020). Historically, the number of internal
displacement due to disasters from year to year looks fluctuating in more detail can be seen
in the graph of the Tendency to Increase the Number of Displaced Population Due to
Disasters in Indonesia in 2008 - 2020. The existence of natural-induced disaster has the
potential to cause losses of life and property. Disasters often force internally displaced
people to leave their hometowns temporarily or move to settle for the next. The severity of
the impact of this disaster depends on the level of vulnerability of the community, both
social and physical. Social vulnerability is influenced by income levels, transportation
access, age, gender, social status, access to information, and other factors. Physical
vulnerability is affected through the potential hazards of a site, local building construction,
the age of the structure, and other similar factors. Therefore, it is important for the
government to pay attention to the planning process, countermeasures, to improve the
condition of the disaster.
The internally displaced persons due to disasters needs to be considered because this
situation causes various problems that will roll like snowballs. Complex problems caused
include rising land prices and rents in destinations, the potential for social segregation
between immigrant communities and local communities, and changes in green land to be
built. Things that need to be considered, especially by the government in tackling the
displacement of internally displaced persons due to disasters, including social vulnerability,
displacement, provision of Temporary Evacuation Sites (TES), determination of household
decisions to return, as well as land development and post-disaster rebuilding. This need can
be addressed by cooperation between institutions. It is hoped that these findings could bring
light to how various public sectors are affected, the immediate needs of those who are
currently displaced, how to mitigate and reduce the impact of disaster in the future, and
what we need to be aware of in an emergency response setting. The findings will be
published on our website as additional information for individuals and institutions that are
involved in disaster displacement issues.
Current Opportunities
Internship. We accept unsolicited internship application. For further information, contact:
Maria Putri, Email: maria.putri@rdi.or.id
HI 25.02°C | LO 25.02°C
