MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, AUSTRALIA – Two delegates of Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC) participated in the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) in Brisbane, Australia on 19-22 September 2022.
They were Deputy Chair of the MDMC Rahmawati Husein and Deputy Treasurer of the MDMC Siti Marhamah. Besides, Siti Marhamah took a three-week short course on mainstreaming disaster risk reduction funded by the Department of Foreign and Trade (DFAT), Australia.
Mentioned on the APMCDRR website, the conference was one of the most important gatherings in the Asia-Pacific to progress disaster risk reduction efforts. Participants included ministers, government officials, representatives of the private sector, not-for-profits, civil society, and vulnerable groups. As the Asia-Pacific is the most disaster-prone region in the world, the conference provides an important opportunity to review efforts to prevent new and reduce existing risks, and for countries and organizations to make actionable commitments against the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
Speaking of the theme “From Crises to Resilience”, Rahmawati Husein stated that the MDMC has attempted to do disaster risk reduction in Indonesia such as the Disaster Safe Education Unit (SPAB), the Disaster Safe Hospital, and the Disaster-Resistant Community.
“In the Volunteer Management session, we shared challenges in managing volunteers to respond to disasters and seeking volunteers that meet certain qualifications,” Rahmawati Husein explained.
The MDMC commits to protecting people from sexual violence and harassment.
“Besides, the MDMC signed recommendations of civil society submitted at the conference,” said Rahmawati.
Several points of the recommendations were about the significance of local leadership in the disaster risk reduction, support on inclusive disaster risk reduction, and civil society in the Asia Pacific regions.
In the conference, the MDMC enhanced, expanded, and strengthen partnerships with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and governments of other countries, particularly Australia. The MDMC has cooperated with the Australian government since the 2004 Aceh tsunami and Asia-Pacific universities to conduct research on Muhammadiyah responses to disasters.
The MDMC also discussed the importance of data integration and update from the government and non-government organizations.
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