Search results

The purpose of this study is to identify the preparedness of disaster mitigation agency officers in both urban and rural areas as high vulnerability zones in Aceh, Indonesia, in dealing with disasters.

This cross-sectional study adopted a conceptual framework from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) and United Nations of Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)/International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) (LIPI-UNESCO/ISDR, 2006), explaining the study of community preparedness in anticipating earthquake and tsunami disasters. The framework of the study consists of five disaster preparedness parameters, namely, knowledge and attitude to face disasters, policies and guidelines, emergency response plans, disaster early warning systems and mobilization of resources. This conceptual framework was developed after the 2004 tsunami through an analysis study in the three provinces in Indonesia (Aceh, Padang and Bengkulu) experiencing earthquakes and tsunamis. This conceptual framework serves as a guideline and is in line with the objective of the regional disaster management Agency to reduce disaster risk through increasing community preparedness, especially providers or officers in anticipating disasters.

There was a significant difference in disaster preparedness among officers from the urban and rural areas. The area size, location accessibility, the communication network and disaster detection and warning facilities could associate with the results.

The respondents were selected from only two districts in Aceh Province, Indonesia, which are vulnerable to disasters. The study only identifies the disaster preparedness among disaster management agency officers (DMAOs) adopted from LIPI-UNESCO/ISDR about community preparedness in anticipating disasters particularly tsunami and earthquake. Therefore, the results of this study may have limited generalizability to other areas in Indonesia and beyond.

The results of this study could possibly serve as recommendations for policymakers and disaster management agencies, particularly in rural areas to prepare contingency plans that involve both internal and external institutions to arrange the regulations related to community-based emergency response plans and disaster early warning systems. Such programs of education, training and disaster drill needed to be in place and conducted regularly for the officers in a rural area. Finally, the other sub-scales showed no difference in disaster preparedness, however, collaboration and support to each other in disaster risk reduction plan by improving the capacity building, policy enhancement and disaster management guidelines are required. Also, attempts to optimize logistics adequacy, budget allocations and disaster preparedness education and training for both DMAOs are strongly recommended through the lens of the study. The results of the study might useful for further research that could be developed based on this current study.

The emergency response plans and disaster early warning systems were significantly different between the rural and urban officers in disaster preparedness. Attending disaster management programs, experiences in responding to disasters and the availability of facilities and funds could be considered in ascertaining the preparedness of officers to deal with disasters.

This paper aims to find out the similarities and differences in meaning between the word “al amanah” and trust.

As a qualitative research, a content analysis is used in three stages. First, to elaborate the exegesis of the related Qur’anic verses together with the background narration or asbab un-nuzul if any and the Prophetic hadith where the word amanah is and to analyse and conclude its meanings. Second, the word “trust” is analysed based on the discussions in the literature which will lead to its specific meanings. Third, the concluded meanings of amanah and trust are to be compared to find out their similarities and differences.

Amanah and trust have the similar meanings: safe, confident, ability to fulfil the expectation of the person who trust, having competence or expertise to perform duty, deliver commitments, keep promises, work with a full of responsibility, integrity or obedient to moral principles. Differences: Amanah is not only oriented to humanity and responsibility in human’s relations but also, more importantly, to God Allah the Almighty, obeying His commands to make it as ibadah or acts of worshipping Allah the Almighty for maslahah or welfare for society.

The findings are considered important for companies or organisations. Before doing a commercial transaction or entering a contract or hiring an employee, they must study the quality of the counterparty whether they are capable to do the job as expected or not. In addition, the findings indicate that Islamic teachings concerning muamalat or Islamic rules for social dealings is universal in nature.

Being the first time to compare the word al amanah to trust, the findings point out the important elements to be evaluated when assigning a certain duty to an agent.