Get to know Murtigading DRR Forum

Disaster Risk Reduction Forum in Murtigading Village or Murtigading DRR Forum which is located in the Murtigading Village area, Bantul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta with a total population of around 8,425 (Men 4,180 and Women: 4245 people). Murtigading village is a buffer for several villages at the edge of the Indian Ocean in the event of an earthquake and tsunami. The Murtigading DRR Forum was formed based on the Decree of the Head of Murtigading Village, Sanden District, Bantul Regency Number 34 of 2022. 

Picture 1. Location of Murtigading Village

 

Innovation in Disaster Risk Reduction

Bantul District is prone to various disasters, including earthquakes, landslides, fires, strong winds, tsunamis, forest and land fires, high waves, coastal erosion, and floods. In response, the community developed an innovative solution which is the Murtigading Mobile Public Kitchen (DUGEM), a mobile, accessible, and inclusive public kitchen. A public kitchen is something that must be present at the location of a disaster. Public kitchens are essential in disaster response, but not all are designed to be accessible and inclusive, particularly for older people, people with disabilities, and other at-risk groups. DUGEM was initiated by the Murtigading DRR Forum out of concern for these challenges. It has successfully responded to a maritime accident in Bantul, supported the celebration of Indonesia’s Independence Day, and contributed to sustaining public kitchens, especially during emergencies and disaster threats.

 

Priority for Risk Groups

In fulfilling its mobile public kitchen mission, the Murtigading DRR Forum has expanded its reach by prioritizing older people, people with disabilities, women, children, and other at-risk groups in planning, surveys, findings, discussions, and the development of DUGEM.

A key innovation of DUGEM lies in its framework, which was designed not only in consultation with product design experts but also with at-risk groups. As a result, DUGEM ensures accessibility, allowing individuals in wheelchairs to cook or directly access its facilities.

 

DUGEM as a Pilot Public Kitchen

Picture 2: DUGEM Design Framework

Figure 3. DUGEM Three-Dimensional Framework 

 

The Murtigading DRR Forum believes that the DUGEM innovation should not only meet standards but also be accessible to everyone, with at-risk groups prioritized both as operators and beneficiaries. Apart from its accessibility and inclusivity, DUGEM is more than just a mobile public kitchen that can be towed by a vehicle, such as an ambulance. It also focuses on providing nutritious meals for all. This innovation has introduced new knowledge to the Murtigading community, emphasizing that disaster relief meals must be nutritionally balanced, healthy, and properly portioned, with careful attention to calorie content and proper serving methods. 

 

DUGEM Menu Book as a Guide to Make Nutritious Menus in Disaster Situations

Meeting the nutritional needs of at-risk groups is a priority, ensuring that cooking methods,  calorie calculations, and proper meal preparation are the basic rights of disaster survivors. Recognizing this, DUGEM developed a menu book, designed in collaboration with at-risk groups and experts, including Tagana (Disaster Preparedness Cadets). Murtigading already has the capacity from the menu book training to be used as a guide in making the DUGEM menu. 

DUGEM, as an innovation of Murtigading, continues to seek development in equipment operation, skilled human resources, and funding support from various stakeholders to ensure its sustainability in serving humanitarian needs.

Figure 4. Photo with All Murtigading DRR Forum as Innovators IDEAKSI 2.0

 

 

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Author: Desy Putri Ratnasari - Information and Communication Staff