Act for Peace’s Aimée Keay travelled to Indonesia and saw first hand how donations from supporters are helping communities in a flood prone region.
Makassar experiences high rainfall, rapid sea level rise and is a mostly low-lying region. These combined risks mean it is extremely prone to flooding. With widespread poverty, the impacts of climate-related disasters are enormous.
The Community Led Early Action and Resilience (CLEAR) program helps communities prepare for disasters and ensure they can respond and recover effectively. The program achieves this by working in the community to make sure every resident knows how to prepare for and respond to the re-occurring floods – sharing early warnings, helping with evacuation and providing emergency financial assistance so vulnerable community members are supported to evacuate safely and meet their daily needs during floods.
CLEAR also supports the community to access alternative livelihoods so community members have reliable sources of income to meet their families’ needs.
During our visit to a local community in Makassar, we learned directly from residents how the flooding is severely impacting their lives. The team explained how the early warning systems alert community members to rising flood water. Little did we know, these streets would be underwater just days after we returned home.
The relentless nature of floods in the region is overwhelming. But the community-wide impact of the CLEAR program is remarkable. Every person we met, told a story of how the program has made a huge difference – either in their own personal life, or throughout their community.
Adifa (pictured with her daughter) is the head of her household and provides for her teenage daughter. She has always struggled to meet their daily needs and every wet season her home is impacted by flooding.
“When there is a flood, we do not earn anything. We feel ashamed. We are ashamed to go ask others for help because we are poor.”
She has a small business selling vegetables and through CLEAR, she received support to grow her business, increase the quantity and variety of goods she sells and improve her income.
“With that assistance, I was able to slowly turn it around little by little until it became like this. Before, I only sold chilies, tomatoes, and leafy vegetables. Now I can buy onions, buy sago, buy other mixed ingredients as well. So from my sales I can save a little at a time, and I can also give my child some money for groceries.”
This change wouldn’t be possible without our generous supporters. Because of your support, communities in Makassar are becoming more resilient to the impacts of frequent flooding. Thank you for helping to create a world where everyone belongs.
Read more about the impact of the CLEAR program and explore a photo essay of the Makassar field visit here: Reflections from the field – Indonesia