ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

Handling natural hazards in Indonesia amid the COVID-19 pandemic: Muhammadiyah's response and strategy

 

 

Muchammad Ichsan

Magister of Law, Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Correspondence

 

 

---

ABSTRACT

Indonesia is prone to natural hazards, which have continued to occur even during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Therefore, this study explored the response and strategy employed by Muhammadiyah, one of Indonesia's moderate Islamic organisations, in dealing with natural hazards during this pandemic. A qualitative descriptive method was used in this study, and the data collection procedure involved finding related literature, reports, and decrees. Online interviews were also conducted with the Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC) administration to strengthen the data. Subsequently, this study discovered that Muhammadiyah responded by aiding victims of natural hazards, which occurred in various regions in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The strategies employed comprise Muhammadiyah COVID-19 Command Center (MCCC) to handle COVID-19, alongside essential recommendations to the MDMC network throughout Indonesia and the various arms of the government for dealing with natural hazards during the pandemic. Also, it showed commitment to handling these hazards by establishing a standard operating procedure for Muhammadiyah volunteers and represented Indonesia during a presentation at the World Health Organization.

Keywords: natural hazards; COVID-19; response; strategy; Muhammadiyah; Indonesia.

---

 

 

Introduction

Indonesia is prone to natural hazards (Djalante 2018), which is expected, as geology shows that the country is at the confluence of three active tectonic plates, namely the Indo-Australia, Eurasia, and Pacific plates in the south, north, and east, respectively (Saputra 2018). These three plates move and collide with each other, causing earthquakes, volcanic paths, and faults that threaten the territory. These hazards are coupled with environmental damage and uncontrolled utilisation of natural resources, and their frequency and the accompanying rate of damage and fatalities are increasing (Robi Amri 2011). Natural hazards occur regardless of the situation, as these events hit many areas in Indonesia, even during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (Nabila 2021; Ramadhan 2021). According to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), there has been 1205 natural hazards from January 1 to April 30, 2021, which were dominated by hydrometeorological events, such as floods, tornadoes, and landslides. Flood hazards were the most frequent, with 501 incidents, followed by 339 tornadoes, 233 landslides, alongside 97 forest and land fires, 18 earthquakes, 16 tidal and abrasion waves, and one drought. Judging from that period, the number of natural hazards increased by 1% from the previous year, as did the death toll by 1.83%. These hazards left 479 dead, 60 missing, 12 900 injured, and 5 million displaced (Jati 2021).

Before the COVID-19 pandemic erupted in Indonesia in early 2020, studies about Muhammadiyah and its relation to hazards solely examined their role during these events. However, since the outbreak of the pandemic, many studies have focused on the organisation's role in dealing with the pandemic from various aspects, such as health, education, social, and religious guidance. Falahuddin (2020) found that Muhammadiyah has contributed to the handling of COVID-19 by forming a task force called Muhammadiyah COVID-19 Command Center (MCCC), the vanguard in COVID-19 prevention in the country. In addition, the organisation supports the health protocols and policies implemented to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, especially physical distancing practices. Meanwhile, Ichsan (2020) examined Muhammadiyah's position in Islamic philanthropy and its contribution to overcoming the pandemic through health, education, social and religious guidance. Suyadi, Nuryana and Fauzi (2020) wrote about the reasoning of Disaster Fiqh [deep understanding], namely the Muhammadiyah product document for answering contemporary problems, mainly geological and non-geological hazards. This subsequently became the normative basis for alleviating health hazards and has been actualised in the mitigation of COVID-19, medical health movements, the reconstruction of fiqh worship during the emergency, and handling hazards theologically.

Consequently, this study supplemented the limited scope of previous research, which precluded the occurrence of natural hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic from their investigations. The problem of this study is how is Muhammadiyah's response and strategy in dealing with natural disasters during the COVID-19 pandemic? Therefore, this study aims to explore Muhammadiyah's response and strategy for handling natural hazards in various regions of Indonesia during this pandemic. Natural hazards have continued to afflict numerous areas throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby requiring the disclosure of Muhammadiyah's response and strategy for dealing with these incidents during this period.

The basis of this study is the argument that besides endeavouring to overcome the continued spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia, Muhammadiyah is not silent about the natural hazards occurring in various regions. The incidence of natural hazards during a pandemic will undoubtedly make people more miserable and helpless. Therefore, Muhammadiyah must remain committed to performing this humanitarian task, although the difficulties and obstacles are extraordinary than regular times without a pandemic. This study explored the response and strategy used by this organisation in handling natural hazards during this period and proceeded to establish Muhammadiyah's humanitarian contributions and lay the groundwork for stakeholders to make future policy decisions.

 

Literature review

Several researches have been conducted worldwide to examine the link between the COVID-19 pandemic and natural hazards. Hariri-Ardebili and Lall (2021) precisely accomplished that. They shed light on the reciprocal relationship and interplay between a natural disaster and a pandemic breakout, as well as the risk to human life. Hariri-Ardebili (2020) also looked at three potentially dangerous occurrences through the prism of a pandemic. He created high-risk, low-probability scenarios by combining a pandemic with a natural hazard or a severe emergency. He also looked at the qualitative effects of these multi-hazard situations. Meanwhile, Chingombe and Musarandega (2021) looked at how the survivors of the Cyclone Idai disaster in Eastern Chimanimani, Zimbabwe, were self-cultivated and eventually used social capital to confront the new socio-economic problems posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Silva and Paul (2021) studied the potential impact of earthquakes during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. They concluded that the global spread of the COVID-19 virus poses unprecedented challenges to disaster risk management, particularly in adopting or developing reaction and readiness plans for simultaneous natural hazards.

Previous research about Muhammadiyah and its relation to natural hazards in Indonesia explored the subject from two aspects, before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the outbreak of the pandemic, the research examined Muhammadiyah's role in handling natural hazards in various regions of Indonesia. Then, the focus became dealing with the disease from various angles such as health, education, social, and religion, after the pandemic hit the country in March 2020. The following section presents Muhammadiyah's concept about disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic and studies on Muhammadiyah's attitude towards natural hazards before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Muhammadiyah's concept about disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic

Muhammadiyah defines a disaster as:

[S]erious disturbances caused by natural and human factors, which can paralyze the functions of a society built to sustain survival, protect assets, preserve the environment and ensure human dignity, as part of religious orders. The paralysis of this function is due to widespread human, material, economic, or environmental losses that go beyond the ability of affected communities to cope by using their resources. (Muhammadiyah 2015, p. 11)

The problem of disaster management is not foreign to Muhammadiyah. Since its establishment in 1912 in Yogyakarta, Muhammadiyah has made tremendous efforts to alleviate the misery and suffering of the people of Indonesia. KH Ahmad Dahlan founded Muhammadiyah to help the people in their suffering (Fauzia 2017). At that time, what KH Ahmad Dahlan and his students did in the field of health was to establish hospitals and clinics, and in the social field to provide child compensation, build poorhouses and provide assistance to the victims of the natural hazard of Mount Merapi (Muchammad Ichsan 2021). In 2007, Muhammadiyah established the 'Disaster Management Center'. This centre was confirmed to be an institution tasked with coordinating Muhammadiyah resources in disaster management activities by the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership after the 2010 Conference under the name of Muhammadiyah Central Disaster Management Agency. This institution has the English designation 'Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center', abbreviated as MDMC (MDMC 2020).

The way of looking at an event is essential because it will affect the attitude and actions to be taken in the face of the event. Similarly, with the problem of disasters, the way Muhammadiyah views disasters will significantly determine the attitude and actions that will be taken. Here is how Muhammadiyah views disasters (Muhammadiyah 2015): (1) According to Muhammadiyah, a disaster is a form of God's love for his servants. God's love for humans can be in the form of grace in various kinds and types, such as sustenance, health, wealth, and security. God's love can also be things that feel bad or disturbing such as disasters, hazards, and others. Moreover, disaster is, in fact, a test or trial of human faith and deeds. God will test humans first if God wants to elevate them to a higher level and wash away their faults and sins. Disaster is not a form of God's anger and hatred towards his servants, but rather it is a form of God's goodness and love for humans, for God will bestow his forgiveness, mercy, and guidance with such a disaster. (2) Muhammadiyah views disaster as the destiny or the provisions and decrees of God that have occurred. Only God knows when and how a disaster will occur, while humans can only know it after it has happened. (3) Disaster as a medium of self-introspection. To be better, humans must always be self-introspective. If a disaster occurs, man reflects on themselves; whatever was done to cause the disaster, man takes it upon themselves. Meanwhile, Muhammadiyah's attitude towards disasters is as follows (Muhammadiyah 2015): (1) All parties associated with disasters, such as individuals, families, communities, and governments, must have a complete awareness of disasters and have a positive attitude towards them. The purpose of a positive attitude towards disasters here is a responsible attitude to handle disasters so that there is no mutual responsibility in the event of a disaster. (2) Disasters often do not affect a particular group of people, but affect others around them; even the scope of disasters can reach a large area. Therefore, all parties are responsible and must help each other to overcome it. (3) The aim of the spirit and mutual help is to fulfil the rights of disaster victims. When a disaster strikes, the victims have rights that must be fulfilled. These rights include the right to manage disaster risk, the right to manage vulnerabilities, emergency assistance, rehabilitation and reconstruction, the right to implement disaster management systems, and the right to be resilient. In addition to these rights, it is necessary to add here the religious rights of the community and related rights. (4) All parties must comfort disaster victims so that they do not 'feel alone' and despair in the face of disasters, because there are still many people who care for them and there is hope to rebuild what has been damaged or lost due to disaster. In handling the COVID-19 pandemic, Muhammadiyah refers to the World Health Organization and the Indonesian government. The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic that became a global problem (World Health Organization 2020), and the Government of Indonesia, through the Task Force to Accelerate the Handling of COVID-19, declared the COVID-19 outbreak a non-natural hazard (Covid-19 2020). Considering the rapid spread of COVID-19, Muhammadiyah declared the outbreak as an extraordinary event that must be immediately dealt with well-coordinated efforts. Muhammadiyah encouraged the government to involve all parties to cooperate and synergise with socialisation measures and policies that are open and comprehensive (Muhammadiyah 2020b). Muhammadiyah itself has consistently handled the COVID-19 pandemic (MDMC 2020). Among other things, by forming MCCC, a unique team was formed to deal with COVID-19 (Muhammadiyah 2020a). Since its founding, the team has been working and handling the pandemic situation. Among the results of its work, assistance in health is needed, such as providing hospitals, doctors, medical personnel, and medicines. Assistance in education includes creating educational media, subsidising credit for students, and discounting student study fees. Assistance in the social sector includes cash assistance and distribution of foodstuffs. In addition, through the Tarjih and Tajdid Assembly, Muhammadiyah provides religious guidance for its members during this pandemic to avoid being confused about performing worship (Ichsan 2020).

Muhammadiyah and natural hazard management

The study of Muhammadiyah's role in handling natural hazards began several years ago. Baidhawy (2015) explored the organisation's theological stand on disasters, its role, disaster management approaches, and mitigation strategies. The study pictured several ways to involve others and partner with multiple national and international stakeholders. Also, Mustika Kurniatri and Sunaryadi (2016) investigated the method, Quality Function Deployment (QFD), used in improving the quality of disaster-related services in PKU Muhammadiyah Bantul Hospital by formulating management efforts based on the wishes of patients and disaster victims. Then, Hilman (2018) found that the spirit of Al-Maun has caused the MDMC to be colourful and exhibit a distinguishing characteristic in conducting disaster management activities. This is depicted by the support in helping those in need, which is realised through a partnership with autonomous Muhammadiyah organisations or other parties, such as the government or private institutions. Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center achieves this objective through disaster management activities such as victim identification, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and recovery. Furthermore, Sakban, Maemunah and Hafsah (2020) found that MDMC adequately implemented disaster management education for volunteers in West Nusa Tenggara. The centre synergises with the government in rehabilitating and mitigating earthquake disasters through structural and non-structural approaches. Muhammadiyah's involvement in disaster management is not solely domestic, as the organisation raised funds and sent humanitarian teams for other disaster relief and development programmes in neighbouring Southeast Asia countries, such as the Philippines and Thailand, and disaster-affected nations like Nepal and Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) (Latief & Nashir 2020). Following the study by Bush (2015) a few years earlier, Muhammadiyah's leading role in disaster and humanitarian assistance in Indonesia has led to its inclusion in international political discourses on humanitarian aid. The above studies highlight the organisation's role in handling natural hazards before the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, Muhammadiyah never stayed silent during hazards that resulted in many victims, showing that the spirit of Al-Maun, which entails helping the needy, has indoctrinated Muhammadiyah deeply.

Muhammadiyah's response to the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic began to spread in Indonesia in March 2020, and studies on Muhammadiyah's role in its management were conducted a few months later. These studies are increasing, as they are conducted for various concerns, including general and mental health, social, religious, educational, economic, and other matters. For example, Djalante et al. (2020) explored the health aspect and reported that Muhammadiyah formed the COVID-19 Command Center and allocated hospitals. The organisation has been transformed into one of the most agile health- and hospital-based emergency responses promoters. Meanwhile, MDMC has been instrumental in the disaster response system in Indonesia, in which the concerned institutions provide clinical services to COVID-19 patients in their hospitals. In the psychological field, Syamsurijal and Sarwan (2021) examined the psychological conditions of elementary school teacher-education students (PGSD) of Muhammadiyah Buton University in implementing online learning during the pandemic. They discovered that the students experienced psychological problems following the online learning programmes through psychological indicators.

Additionally, Wicaksana Prakasa et al. (2021) explored the social field by examining Muhammadiyah's role as a civil society entity for guarding the distribution of social assistance throughout the East Java province. They found that the Participatory Action Research conducted by the Muhammadiyah residents in this area is a practical step and an excellent example of suitable structural and cultural approaches that various entities can use to mitigate the potential for social assistance corruption during the pandemic. Meanwhile, Lestari, Hamsia and Setiyawan (2021) analysed the adaptation strategies employed by two Muhammadiyah inclusion schools in Surabaya, Indonesia, namely Sekolah Peduli Anak Hebat (SPAH) and Sekolah Kreatif Surabaya, in the education sphere. The study discovered that these strategies could help coordinate parents, teachers and students, build community cooperation, and make flexible and accessible learning policies. In the business field, Hanif, Fery and Raheni (2020) discovered the roles of Muhammadiyah volunteers in assisting micro-businesses in the central Sulawesi province to survive the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, the provision of a capital injection of 4 million rupiahs, had a very positive effect. Also, Isngadi and Khakim (2021) discovered numerous issues that need to be evaluated in the law's implementation after examining the effectiveness of applying Law No. 24 of 2007 and the Muhammadiyah Disaster Fiqh in dealing with COVID-19 through law and religion. The above research shows that investigations on Muhammadiyah's response and strategy in handling natural hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic are still very limited or unexecuted, thereby creating a need for a study on this subject as a basis for future action by stakeholders.

 

Methods

This study employed qualitative descriptive methods to describe Muhammadiyah's response and strategy in handling natural hazards in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic. These incidents occurred in many areas between January 2020 and June 2021, and Muhammadiyah did not stay silent, as the organisation dealt with these hazards during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The data were collected from related literature, reports, and decrees that support the analysis of Muhammadiyah's response and strategy in handling natural hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthened by online interviews through Microsoft Teams and Zoom. This method was used to comply with social and physical distancing policies that prohibit face-to-face interviews. These interviews were designed to elicit information about the study topic, and the participants included the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and Secretary of MDMC, who is concurrently the Secretary of MCCC.

Subsequently, the data were analysed according to the stages of qualitative descriptive studies, namely data reduction, display, and conclusion drawing. The reduction involved selecting resources relevant to the study topic and sorting out less supportive information. Then, the data were compiled and described to explain the information and interpreted by providing definitions and meanings before the conclusion was drawn. The innovation and creativity of the interpretation were performed to determine the meaning behind the collected data while ensuring its originality.

Ethical considerations

Ethical clearance to conduct the study was obtained from the Research and Innovation Institute, University of Yogyakarta, reference number: 167 /LRI-UMY/X/202L.

 

Results

Muhammadiyah referred to natural hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic as multi-hazards because of the increased dangers that threatened the victims and volunteers who helped. These persons are highly vulnerable to the threat posed by the ongoing pandemic (Setiawan 2021). Nevertheless, Muhammadiyah has remained steadfast in its mission and undeterred in fulfilling its humanitarian obligation by helping numerous victims of natural hazards that occurred in various regions of Indonesia (Husein 2021). These hazards include the landslide in Bogor, the Seroja storm in East Nusa Tenggara, and floods in South Kalimantan (Kholis 2021). The organisation's response and strategy in dealing with natural hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic is discussed in the following sections.

Muhammadiyah's response in handling natural hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic

Muhammadiyah continually strives to handle natural hazards, and its efforts have remained consistent despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The organisation responded to these incidents by aiding people in many areas affected by natural hazards from January 2020 to June 2021, as revealed by the two sets of data below:

Firstly, the data on its response to natural hazards between January and December 2020 show that:

• The Tanggap Darurat, Rehabilitasi dan Rekonstruksi [Emergency Response, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction] Division (TDRR) of the MDMC of the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership have conducted 103 hazard responses, involving 49 floods, 14 landslides, one earthquake, 9 fires, 7 search and rescues, 6 tornadoes, 5 droughts, 6 fallen trees, and 6 mountain eruptions.

• There have been three responses in Aceh, West Sumatra, Central Sulawesi, and Banten each, two each in North Sumatra, West and Central Kalimantan, alongside DKI Jakarta, East Java, and Nusa Tenggara Barat (NBT). Also, there have been one each in South Sumatra, Bengkulu, Lampung, South and East Kalimantan, Gorontalo, Maluku, West Papua, and Nusa Tenggara Timur, alongside four South Sulawesi, 10 West Java, 16 Central Java, and 12 DIYogyakarta responses.

• Total expenditure was Rp 7 552 887 757.

• There were 1965 Muhammadiyah Response Team members, consisting of 174 psychosocial personnel, 1234 general volunteers, alongside seven assistance teams, 77 post-management, 116 health team, 145 available kitchen, 175 SAR team, and 37 logistic team personnel.

• Total beneficiaries include 86 200 people, comprising the cleanup of areas affected by floods, landslides, fallen trees, and fires. There were 94 temporary housing units, 3200 recipients of clean water, 2753 psychosocial assistances, 42 888 logistics distributions, 7700 mask receivers, 4010 healthcare beneficiaries, 25 052 ready meals, and evacuation and rescue operations, and 315 school kits. All of the above data is included in Figure 1 and Figure 2.

 

 

 

 

Secondly, the data concerning Muhammadiyah's response to natural hazards between January - April 2021 showed that:

• TDRR of MDMC of Muhammadiyah Central Leadership implemented 80 hazard responses from January to April 23, 2021.

• Central Java had the most responses of 19, followed by East Java, West, Yogyakarta, and NTB, at 10, 6, 5, and 4 times. The rest were in 14 other provinces, which occurred below three times in each region.

• Of the total 80 responses that were implemented, MDMC distributed Rp. 8 121 779 632. These funds came from donations from various parties, including extended Muhammadiyah members and the public channeled through Lazismu, and assistance from MDMC partner agencies, such as Swiss Solitaire, CRS, and Allianz.

• There were 298 891 beneficiaries of MDMC funds through various response activities, namely SAR operations, ready-to-eat food distribution, COVID-19 kits, clean water, logistics and non-logistics, psychosocial assistance, health services, environmental cleaning, emergency, temporary or permanent shelters, socialisation, and emergency bridges.

• There were 2870 volunteers, comprising about 2268 general, 200 medical, 76 psychosocial, 7 assistants, 150 available kitchen, 86 SAR team, 57 logistics, 3 media personnel, and 4 drivers.

• In April 2021, Muhammadiyah volunteers plunged into three hazard areas, namely West Nusa Tenggara, particularly Bima and Dompu due to extreme rainfall, East Nusa Tenggara because of the cyclone Seroja, and East Java due to the earthquake that hit the southern regions, such as Blitar, Lumajang, Malang, and Jember.

• In West Nusa Tenggara, the local volunteers helped flood-affected residents in Bima and Dompu by performing an intensive environmental cleanup, logistical assistance, ready meals, and accessible health services.

• After the landslide in East Nusa Tenggara, the MDMC Head sent National Muhammadiyah Emergency Medical Team (EMT) to support the local volunteers. The services conducted include free medical treatment, logistical and psychosocial assistance, and improved clean water advice for the residents.

• The volunteers in Blitar, Lumajang, Malang, and Jember of East Java performed various activities to help the survivors, such as distributing logistics and ready meals, cleaning earthquake debris, psychosocial assistance, and free medical examinations. All of the above data is included in Figure 3, Figure 4 and Figure 5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Muhammadiyah's strategy in dealing with natural hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic

Muhammadiyah employs various strategies in handling natural hazards during general or everyday circumstances. However, new strategies were formulated during the COVID-19 pandemic to suit the situation and conditions, including:

• The Muhammadiyah Central Leadership formed the MCCC on March 14, 2020, based on the Decree of Muhammadiyah Central Leadership Number 2825/KEP/I.0/D/2020 concerning the Establishment of MCCC in charge of coordinating various COVID-19 pandemic prevention programmes involving Muhammadiyah potential and networks (Muhammadiyah 2020).

• The provision of recommendations on handling natural hazards during the pandemic to the entire MDMC network throughout Indonesia and various arms of the government (MDMC 2021a). The recommendations are listed in Table 1.

• Muhammadiyah also set a Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) for volunteers to maintain their health as well as that of the victims of natural hazards during the pandemic (Muhammadiyah 2021a), which is shown in Table 2 and Figure 6.

• The EMT of the Muhammadiyah Deployment during the COVID-19 pandemic represented Indonesia and made a presentation at the World Health Organization (WHO) programme, hosted virtually in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday 29 April 2021 (Muhammadiyah 2021b; Nihayati 2021).

 

Discussion

This study shows the response of Muhammadiyah to natural hazards that occurred in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The response covers many areas in the country involving many volunteers, large fund donations, and numerous beneficiaries. This is expected, as non-governmental organisations, including religious organisations such as Muhammadiyah, play crucial roles due to their spearheaded and fast nature, alongside a broader reach of the community. The reasons are, firstly, religious organisations, including Muhammadiyah, have been existing in the society for a long time, even before the state was formed. Secondly, they have a loyal following based on their willingness to help with their funds, time, energy, and possessions. Thirdly, community organisations have a vast network, prominent members or constituents, and a basis on religious values that are believed and often guided and followed by society. Fourthly, they have substantial, vast, and significant assets, and fifthly, they have connections or access to the central and regional governments and network with other organisations with similar values and goals (Ardianto 2021).

Furthermore, this study highlighted Muhammadiyah's strategy in handling natural hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first was the formation of MCCC to ensure that issues about the pandemic are handled in a well-coordinated manner. Meanwhile, MDMC, as a previously established institution, permanently remains responsible for managing natural and non-natural hazards in regular times and during the pandemic. It is a sound strategy because disaster risk reduction and the COVID-19 pandemic mitigation teams are more organised than before, and the division of tasks and officers are dependable. Hence, better results are expected.

Muhammadiyah's recommendations about handling natural hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic were also discovered to be aimed at two parties, namely the MDMC network throughout Indonesia, alongside the central and local governments. The recommendations addressed to the entire MDMC network throughout Indonesia comprised directives that should be adhered to, as they are under the central body. The content is significant because it directs actions for dealing with natural hazards during the pandemic. Similarly, the recommendations to governments express the wish and request that the Muhammadiyah standards be applied for the good of the community, and they are congruent with the content directed to the MDMC network.

The SOP for Muhammadiyah volunteers to be deployed to help natural hazard victims during the pandemic is the right strategy as it protects the volunteers directly and the victims indirectly due to the high infectivity of COVID-19. Hence, the lack of SOP or nonadherence may cause the assistance of natural hazard victims to become tragic, as the volunteers and victims may transfer or contract COVID-19. In addition, the representation of Indonesia at the World Health Organization (WHO) programme, which was hosted virtually in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday 29 April 2021, by the EMT Muhammadiyah Deployment during the COVID-19 pandemic serves as a strategy to publicise the organisation's role and contribution in disaster management to the world.

This study showed that Muhammadiyah still experiences significant challenges and obstacles, although it employs a comprehensive response and proper strategy in handling natural hazards during the pandemic. These challenges are recognised while facing multi-hazards due to the increased complexity of personnel capacity, team logistics, and facility modifications. Other obstacles are the tracing, testing, treatment, and referral system used in assessing affected areas during the pandemic, increased risk of transmission in affected areas, and the need to suspect every patient until confirmed negative (Nihayati 2021).

Based on the study results showing these challenges and constraints, future policies and budgets should apply the principles of community-based disaster risk reduction during a pandemic. Another important suggestion is that the cooperation between governments and community organisations should be improved, especially the efforts to handle natural hazards and the COVID-19 pandemic, based on the strength of thecommunity.

 

Conclusion

Muhammadiyah has been instrumental in helping the victims of natural hazards in Indonesia, both in regular times and especially during the COVID-19 outbreak. Subsequently, this study showed that natural hazards worsened the suffering of people who are already affected by the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Muhammadiyah has played an active role by providing assistance in various regions via an appropriate strategy. Through MDMC, the organisation has followed the stages of prevention before disasters and adhered to adequate practical measures, namely disaster management methods such as mitigation, preparedness, emergency response, and recovery after a hazard during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The response and strategy used by this organisation in dealing with natural hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is the study's finding, are not only able to address the problem of this article that has not been discussed by other researchers, but can also be exemplified by other community organisations and the government. In the Muhammadiyah approach, experts understand and have practised disaster theories in many natural and non-natural management situations inside and outside Indonesia.

This study was limited to assessing Muhammadiyah's response and strategy in managing natural hazards while the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing. Consequently, further comparative research should identify and map the advantages and weaknesses of actions implemented by Muhammadiyah and other organisations to facilitate mutual support and complement in helping the community overcome the multi-hazardous disasters. This is based on the idea that an organisation, no matter its size, cannot handle a hazard alone. The government cannot solely manage natural hazards without including the community. Hence, a collaboration between all parties in handling natural hazards, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, is encouraged, as this will assist the community and lighten their burden, thereby fostering gratitude.

 

Acknowledgements

The author would like to express his gratitude to the Head of Research and Innovation Board and the Director of Post Graduate Center at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta for their assistance with this research.

Competing interests

The author declares that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.

Author's contributions

All activities of the research, including conceptualisation, methodology, writing the original draft, data curation, formal analysis, and review and editing were done by the author.

Funding information

The author is grateful to the Institute for Research, Publication, and Community Service, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (LP3M UMY), and Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Republic of Indonesia, for providing the grant to conduct this study.

Data availability

All materials and data used in this study were obtained lawfully from reliable sources and were approved by the Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center.

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Muhammadiyah.

 

References

Ardianto, A., 2021, Kerja Tuntas Muhammadiyah dalam Penanganan Bencana, Muhammadiyah, viewed 12 July 2021, from https://muhammadiyah.or.id/kerja-tuntas-muhammadiyah-dalam-penanganan-bencana/.

Baidhawy, Z., 2015, 'The role of a faith-based organization in coping with disaster management and mitigation Muhammadiyah's experience', Journal of Indonesian Islam 9(2), 167-194. https://doi.org/10.15642/JIIS.2015.9.2.167-194        [ Links ]

Bush, R., 2015, 'Muhammadiyah and disaster response: Innovation and change in humanitarian assistance', in C. Brassard, A.M. Howitt & D.W. Giles, (eds.), Natural disaster management in the Asia-Pacific: Policy and governance, pp. 33-48, Springer Japan, Chiyoda.

Chingombe, W. & Musarandega, H., 2021, 'From the Cyclone Idai disaster to the COVID-19 pandemic: An account of inadvertent social capital enhancement in Eastern Chimanimani, Zimbabwe', Jàmbá Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 13(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v13i1.1068        [ Links ]

Covid-19, G.T.P.P., 2020, Tanya Jawab, GTPPCovid-19, viewed 05 January 2022, from https://%0A/covid19.go.id/tanya-jawab?page=4.

Djalante, R., 2018, 'Review article: A systematic literature review of research trends and authorships on natural hazards, disasters, risk reduction and climate change in Indonesia', Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 18(6), 1785-1810. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-18-1785-2018        [ Links ]

Djalante, R., Lassa, J., Setiamarga, D., Sudjatma, A., Indrawan, M., Haryanto, B. et al., 2020, 'Review and analysis of current responses to COVID-19 in Indonesia: Period of January to March 2020', Progress in Disaster Science 6, 100091. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2020.100091        [ Links ]

Falahuddin, 2020, 'Respons Muhammadiyah Menghadapi Covid-19', Maarif 15(1), 137-152. https://doi.org/10.47651/mrf.v15i1.81        [ Links ]

Fauzia, A., 2017, 'Penolong kesengsaraan umum: The charitable activism of muhammadiyah during the colonial period', South East Asia Research 25(4), 379-394. https://doi.org/10.1177/0967828X17740458        [ Links ]

Hanif, A., Fery & Raheni, C., 2020, 'The role of Muhammadyah volunteers in helping micro businesses in Sirenja Subdistrict, Donggala Regency, Central Sulawesi Province to stay in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis', International Journal of Health, Economics, and Social Sciences 2(4), 248-251.         [ Links ]

Hariri-Ardebili, M.A., 2020, 'Living in a multi-risk chaotic condition: Pandemic, natural hazards, and complex emergencies', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17(16), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165635        [ Links ]

Hariri-Ardebili, M.A. & Lall, U., 2021, 'Superposed natural hazards and pandemics: Breaking dams, floods, and covid-19', Sustainability (Switzerland) 13(16), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168713        [ Links ]

Hilman, Y.A., 2018, 'Disaster management concept of Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Centre in Ponorogo, Indonesia', Otoritas: Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan 8(1), 65. https://doi.org/10.26618/ojip.v8i1.807        [ Links ]

Husein, R., 2021, The Deputy Chairman of MDMC: Interview with Ichsan on June 10, 2021, at 13.00 via Microsoft Teams, Yogyakarta.

Ichsan, M., 2020, 'Islamic Philantrophy and Muhammadiyah's contribution to the Covid-19 control in Indonesia', Afkaruna 16(1), 114-131. https://doi.org/10.18196/aiijis.2020.0116.114-130        [ Links ]

Isngadi, I. & Khakim, M., 2021, 'Efektivitas Undang-Undang Nomor 24 Tahun 2007 Tentang Penanggulangan Bencana dan Fikih Kebencanaan Terhadap Perilaku Warga Muhammadiyah (Studi Kasus Covid-19)', Jurnal Komunikasi Hukum (JKH) 7(1), 202-214. https://doi.org/10.23887/jkh.v7i1.31470        [ Links ]

Jati, R., 2021, Bencana Hidrometeorologi Dominan Sepanjang Awal Januari Hingga Akhir April 2021, BNPB official website, viewed 26 July 2021, from https://www.bnpb.go.id/berita/bencana-hidrometeorologi-dominan-sepanjang-awal-januari-hingga-akhir-april-2021-.

Kholis, A.N., 2021, The Secretary of MDMC: Interview with Ichsan on June 21, 2021, at 13.00 via Zoom, Yogyakarta.

Latief, H. & Nashir, H., 2020, 'Local dynamics and global engagements of the Islamic Modernist Movement in contemporary Indonesia: The case of Muhammadiyah (2000-2020)', Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs 39(2), 290-309. https://doi.org/10.1177/1868103420910514        [ Links ]

Lestari, S., Hamsia, W. & Setiyawan, R., 2021, 'Learning adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Muhammadiyah inclusion schools', Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn) 15(2), 320-328. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v15i2.19863        [ Links ]

Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC), 2020, Profile, MDMC, viewed 05 January 2022, from https://mdmc.or.id/profil/.

Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC), 2021a, Penguatan Sistem Penanggulangan Bencana dalam Masa Pandemi Covid-19, Yogyakarta, viewed from file:///C:/Users/umy/Downloads/RekomendasiRakerpimMDMCPenguatanSistem PenanggulanganBencanadalamMasaPandemiCovid-19.pdf

Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC) 2021b, Muhamadiyah response update -January to April 2021 as of 23 April 2021, viewed 12 July 2021, from https://mdmc.or.id/update-respon-muhamadiyah-januari-april-2021-per-23-april-2021

Muchammad Ichsan, N.P., 2021, Muhammadiyah dan Penanganan Bencana, 2nd edn., Pustaka Pelajar, Yogyakarta.

Muhammadiyah, L.P.B.P.P., 2021a, Surat Keputusan Lembaga Penanggulangan Bencana Pimpinan Pusat Muhammadiyah Nomor: 001/KEP/I.16/D/2021 Tentang: Standar Prosedur Operasional (SPO) Penugasan Relawan Muhammadiyah Di Masa Pandemi Covid-19, 001/KEP/I.16/D/2021, Lembaga Penanggulangan Bencana Pimpinan Pusat Muhammadiyah, Yogyakarta, viewed 12 July 2021, from http://www.mdmc.or.id/index.php/download-file/category/8-laporan-situasi-penanganan-bencana?download=45:sitrep-banjir-bandang-belating.

Muhammadiyah, M.T. dan T.P.P.M.L.P.B.P.P., 2015, Fikih Kebencanaan, 2nd edn., Majelis Tarjih dan Tajdid Pimpinan Pusat Muhammadiyah dan Lembaga Penanggulangan Bencana Pimpinan Pusat Muhammadiyah, Yogyakarta.

Muhammadiyah, P.P., 2020a, Surat Keputusan Pimpinan Pusat Muhammadiyah Nomor 2825/KEP/I.0/D/2020 Tentang Pembentukan Muhammadiyah Covid-19 Command Center, Pimpinan Pusat Muhammadiyah, viewed 16 July 2021, from http://repository.umy.ac.id/bitstream/handle/123456789/32601/MuhCovid19_SKPPM.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.

Muhammadiyah, P.P., 2020b, Surat Maklumat Pimpinan Pusat Muhammadiyah Nomor 02/MLM/I.0/H/2020 Tentang Wabah Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Pimpinan Pusat Muhammadiyah, viewed 18 July 2021, from https://mcccjatim.pwmu.co/maklumat-pimpinan-pusat-muhammadiyah-terkait-wabah-covid-19/.

Muhammadiyah, R., 2021b, The Muhammadiyah EMT represents Indonesia at the UN Programme, Muhammadiyah, viewed 12 July 2021, from https://muhammadiyah.or.id/en/the-muhammadiyah-emt-represents-indonesia-at-the-un-programme/.

Mustika Kurniatri, D. & Sunaryadi, S., 2016, 'Analisis Upaya Peningkatan Mutu Manajemen Pelayanan Bencana Terhadap Korban Bencana Di Rs Pku Muhammadiyah Bantul Berdasarkan Metode Quality Function Deployment (Qfd)', Jurnal Medicoeticolegal dan Manajemen Rumah Sakit 5(1), 56-62. https://doi.org/10.18196/jmmr.5107        [ Links ]

Nabila, M., 2021, 'Pandemi Covid-19 Belum Usai, Bencana Alam Menguji', KABAR24, 22 January, viewed 15 May 2021, from https://kabar24.bisnis.com/read/20210122/15/1346430/pandemi-covid-19-belum-usai-bencana-alam-menguji.

Nihayati, Z., 2021, EMT Muhammadiyah deployment during COVID-19 pandemic, Yogyakarta.

Ramadhan, F.M., 2021, '169 Bencana Alam Selama 20 Hari di 2021', Tempo.Co, 21 January, viewed 17 May 2021, from https://grafis.tempo.co/read/2490/169-bencana-alam-selama-20-hari-di-2021.

Robi Amri, M., 2011, Indeks Rawan Bencana Indonesia, Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana, Jakarta.

Sakban, A., Maemunah & Hafsah, 2020, 'Disaster management education of the earthquake by Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Centre', Paedagoria 11(1), 28-35. https://doi.org/10.31764/paedagoria.v11i1.1838        [ Links ]

Saputra, A., 2018, Understanding the earthquake multi-hazard and risk using remote sensing and geographic information system in Pleret, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, University of Canterbury, Christchurch.

Setiawan, B., 2021, The Chairman of MDMC: Interview with Ichsan on June 14, 2021, at 08.00 AM via Microsoft Teams, Yogyakarta.

Silva, V. & Paul, N., 2021, 'Potential impact of earthquakes during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic', Earthquake Spectra 37(1), 73-94. https://doi.org/10.1177/8755293020950328.         [ Links ]

Suyadi, Nuryana, Z. & Fauzi, N.A.F., 2020, 'The fiqh of disaster: The mitigation of Covid-19 in the perspective of Islamic education-neuroscience', International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 51, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101848        [ Links ]

Syamsurijal, S. & Sarwan, S., 2021, 'Kondisi Psikologis Mahasiswa PGSD Universitas Muhammadiyah Buton (UMB) dalam Pelaksanaan Pembelajaran Daring di Masa Pandemi', Edukatif : Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan 3(1), 220-226. https://doi.org/10.31004/edukatif.v3i1.290        [ Links ]

Wicaksana Prakasa, S.U., Hariri, A., Nuriyah, I., Asis, A. & Salam, I., 2021, 'Social aid of Covid-19 corruption: Strategy and mitigation policy of Muhammadiyah East Java', Legality : Jurnal Ilmiah Hukum 29(1), 27-45. https://doi.org/10.22219/ljih.v29i1.15127        [ Links ]

World Health Organization, 2020, Events as they happen, WHO, viewed 05 January 2022, from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen.

 

 

Correspondence:
Muchammad Ichsan
drichsan65@umy.ac.id

Received: 21 Nov. 2021
Accepted: 28 Jan. 2022
Published: 28 Apr. 2022