Anticipating Floods and Fires, Human Initiative, in Collaboration with PLN Indonesia Power, Provides Emergency Facilities in Tello Baru Sub-District

Makassar, South Sulawesi – Tello Baru Sub-District is one of the areas in the Panakkukang District of Makassar, South Sulawesi. According to the Makassar City Government, this area is prone to flooding every year. In an effort to anticipate disasters, Human Initiative’s South Sulawesi branch, in collaboration with PLN Indonesia Power UPDK Tello, handed over emergency response equipment to the residents of Tello Baru on September 14th. The assistance consists of one complete set of rubber boat rescue equipment and 11 units of light fire extinguishing tools.

The handover of emergency response equipment to the residents of Tello Baru is a proactive measure to address flood and fire disasters. This inauguration event also formalized the Tello Baru Sub-District Emergency Response Team. The hope is that the establishment of this emergency response team can minimize casualties when disasters occur.

“We greatly appreciate this, as in our area, there are three neighborhood units (RWs) that experience flooding every year. This situation is of great concern to the residents living in riverside areas like Tallo. Therefore, the residents are in great need of rubber boats,” said the Head of Tello Baru Sub-District, Syarifuddin, in his address.

In line with this, the Secretary of Panakkukang District in Makassar, Mr. Abd Muis, expressed his gratitude. In his speech, he stated that PLN Indonesia Power and Human Initiative have provided a valuable and community-specific contribution to the residents of Tello Baru.

Ongoing Program for Tello Sub-District

The provision of emergency response equipment is an ongoing program resulting from the social mapping study conducted by Human Initiative South Sulawesi in Tello Baru Sub-District. This activity is an effort to better understand the most pressing needs of the Tello Baru community.

“From the results of the social mapping by Human Initiative in Tello Baru Sub-District, emergency response is not only about the facilities but also about human resources,” said Mustafa, Assistant Manager of PLN Indonesia Power UPDK Tello.

Furthermore, Mustafa also mentioned that this program is part of PLN Indonesia Power UPDK Tello’s social and environmental responsibility. He represented PLN Indonesia Power UPDK Tello in expressing gratitude to the Emergency Response Team for their willingness to become emergency response volunteers.

“Hopefully, next year we can continue to contribute,” he added.

In preparation for the establishment of the Tello Baru Sub-District Emergency Response Team, Human Initiative South Sulawesi and PLN Indonesia Power had conducted training well in advance. Swardi, the Branch Manager of Human Initiative South Sulawesi, conveyed that before the official establishment of the Tello Baru Sub-District Emergency Response Team, Human Initiative had provided training to the team, including Fire Rescue and Water Rescue training.

“Certainly, in the future, this knowledge will continue to be applied through ongoing training with the Human Initiative team. God willing, the Human Initiative team is ready to support this program to create a disaster-resilient environment in Tello Baru Sub-District,” concluded Swardi in his remarks.