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The Formulation of the Standard Operating Procedures on Tsunami Early Warning Chain of Maluku Province and Ambon City

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The Formulation of the Standard Operating Procedures on Tsunami Early Warning Chain of Maluku Province and Ambon City

Disaster Risk Reduction and Tsunami Information Unit (DRRTIU) and Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Centre (IOTIC) in UNESCO Office Jakarta in coordination with the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Local Disaster Management Office (BPBD) of Maluku Province and Ambon City organized a training workshop on the formulation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on tsunami early warning chain for Maluku Province and Ambon City. The workshop is held in Hotel Marina, Ambon from 9 to 12 February 2016. This activity is part of project components of Building Model for Disaster Resilient City in Indonesia: Tsunami Hazard that being implemented within the framework of Indonesia Funds-in-Trust (IFIT).

The aim of this workshop is to develop and to agree on tsunami early warning chain SOP used for Maluku Province and Ambon City. There were 39 participants taking a part in the first day of the workshop representing BMKG, BPBD of Maluku Province, BPBD of Ambon City, Army and Police Department and Disaster Responses Agencies in Maluku/Ambon City.

The opening session of the workshop consisted of three remarks. Mr. Ardito Kodijat of UNESCO – IOTIC had a chance to start the remarks by expressing high appreciations to local government i.e., BPBD Maluku and Ambon City, and all parties who have put best effort to make this event possible. Mr. Ardito also explained in general historical records of tsunami in Indonesia that initially started from Maluku regions. He also said that this sort of activity is duplicated and modified from previous activity implemented by UNESCO Office Jakarta -IOTIC in another area in Indonesia, which is Pandeglang District, in strengthening the capacity of local government for tsunami early warning chain.

Mr. Mochammad Riyadi, Head of Earthquake and Tsunami Centre, BMKG delivered his remarks on the domain of BMKG in tsunami early warning system in Indonesia. He stated that BMKG has advance capacity in issuing the tsunami warning in Indonesia within five minutes after earthquake strikes. This warning is disseminated in various communication methods such as Short Messages Services (SMS), Warning Receiver System (WRS), and email. Mr. Riyadi also express his grateful for positive collaboration amongst UNESCO Office Jakarta, BMKG, and local government entities in Maluku Province and Ambon City to support this important activity.

The workshop was officially opened by Mr. Bakri Lumbessy, Advisor for Governor of Maluku for Laws and Human Rights. Through a remark of the Governor, Mr. Bakri delivered appreciations from local government for this initiatives of UNESCO Office Jakarta – IOTIC and BMKG. Mr. Bakri stated that the disaster management is a holistic approach through the involvement of relevant government entities and communities. This could be done through end-to-end interventions. Therefore, the Government of Maluku fully supports the activity of strengthening the capacity of local government, in this case BPBD, for better disaster management in Maluku region.

To achieve the goal of the workshop, six modules of training materials have been set to delivery during the event. The First Module, which is on introduction to project and workshop, and the Second Module (Hazard and Tsunami Risk) were delivered in the first day of the workshop. Module 3 and Module 4, explaining about tsunami early warning system including its context for Indonesia, are delivered in the second day of the workshop. The Standard Operating System (SOP) on tsunami early warning chain is framed in the Fifth Module and it will be delivered on the third and fourth day of the workshop. The final day of workshop will consist the material covering development strategy of the SOP (Module 6). This module will wrap up the workshop along with the number of recommendations and action points. Beside the presentations from resource persons and trainers, the workshop will also comprise a number of discussions, questions and answers, and interactive games. This sort of activities will ask active participation from all participants of the workshop.