Events

This is a joint seminar between the Asia Research Institute’s Asian Urbanism Cluster and Indonesian Study Group, National University of Singapore

CHAIRPERSON

Prof Michael Douglass, Asia Research Institute and Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore

ABSTRACT

Indonesia is one of the world’s most susceptible countries to natural disasters, with more than 600,000 people a year suffering from their consequences (2009 UN Global Assessment on Disaster Risk Reduction). In the first quarter of 2011, Indonesia experienced 67 significant earthquakes (5.0 magnitude or higher). Volcanic eruptions, flooding, landslides and tsunamis are continual threats. The western and southern islands on Indonesia, especially Java and Sumatra, are especially vulnerable to hazards and have high risk levels for volcanoes, droughts, earthquakes, floods, and landslides.

Merapi volcano, located in central Java, is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548. The 2010 eruptions of Merapi volcano, starting in late October 2010, resulted in a violent series of eruptions that lasted until November. The eruption was said by authorities to be the largest since the 1870s. Located approximately 28 kilometres north of the large Yogyakarta city, this volcano endangered thousands of people. Volcanic eruptions from Merapi have taught the people of Yogyakarta province to become more resilient in the face of environmental disasters.

This seminar will focus on disaster governance in the case of Merapi volcanic eruptions using a community-based model for post-disaster housing reconstruction. The aim of this research is to draw policy lessons for effectiveness coordination and governance perspectives. This research is based on the collection of data from various types of organizations that have been involved in Merapi housing recovery and resettlement programs. The impact of volcanic eruptions has not only impacted the lives of people living on the slopes of Mount Merapi, but also populations in urban areas. We will also analyze disaster governance through reference to models that are still evolving at sub-national levels and which compare and contrast disaster governance in urban and rural localities in Sleman regency and the city of Yogyakarta.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Gatot Saptadi graduated in Civil Engineering, Gadjah Mada University Indonesia. He has been invited to speak in various seminars and trainings at the national and international levels. In 2011, he was a speaker at the “International Symposium Disaster Management” in Kobe, Japan, and “Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction” in Geneva, Switzerland. He was the Director of PDAM Jayapura of Irian Jaya Province, he was also the head of Planning Section of Human Settlements Sector of Department of Public Works of the same province. In 2007, he was the Head of Planning Section of Human Settlements Sector of Department of Public Works of Yogyakarta Province, then Head of Infrastructure of Provincial Development Planning Agency of Yogyakarta Province. Today, Gatot Saptadi is Chief Executive of the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency of Yogyakarta Province since 2012.

Mahditia Paramita is CEO of the Housing Resource Center Indonesia, a non-governmental research group with a focus on innovative approaches to urban housing, synergists roles of duty-bearers and empowers rights-holders. Mahditia holds a Master of Architecture in Human Settlements from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium and Architectural Engineering (Ir.) from Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia. She is a PhD student in Public Policy at Gadjah Mada University. She has joined research and planning projects and has been a consultant for national and local governments in Indonesia. Her current research is on riverfront planning, city-to-city partnership, and housing and urban development policy.

REGISTRATION

Admission is free. We would greatly appreciate if you RSVP to Mr Jonathan Lee at Email: jonathan.lee@nus.edu.sg