Cities and Calamities: Learning from Post-Disaster Response in Indonesia

The article examines the post-disaster response to recent urban-centered
calamities in Indonesia, extracting lessons learned and identifying specific implications
for public health. Brief background information is provided on the December 2004
tsunami and earthquakes in Aceh and Nias and the May 2006 earthquake in Yogyakarta
and Central Java provinces. Another brief section summarizes the post-disaster response to
both events, covering relief and recovery efforts. Lessons that have been learned from the
post-disaster response are summarized, including: (a) lessons that apply primarily to the
relief phase; (b) lessons for rehabilitation and reconstruction; (c) do_s and don_ts; (d) cityspecific observations. Finally, several implications for urban public health are drawn from
the experiences to address health inequities in the aftermath of disasters. An initial
implication is the importance of undertaking a serious assessment of health sector damages and needs shortly following the disaster. Then, there is a need to distinguish between different types of interventions and concerns during the humanitarian (relief) and recovery phases. As recovery proceeds, it is important to incorporate disaster preparation and
prevention into the overall reconstruction effort. Lastly, both relief and recovery efforts
must pay special attention to the needs of vulnerable groups. In conclusion, these lessons
are likely to be increasingly relevant as the risk of urban-centered disasters increases.