Post-disaster emergencies prone to gender-based violence: Minister

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Fauzi warned that emergencies after a disaster can increase the risk of gender-based violence (GBV) and child exploitation, including the potential for child labor or human trafficking.

"To anticipate this, we activated a rapid complaint service through Sahabat Perempuan dan Anak (SAPA) 129 and have alerted Regional Technical Implementation Units for the Protection of Women and Children in affected areas," she said during her visit to the evacuation post after a fire in Pengadegan Timur, South Jakarta, on Monday.

Besides ensuring protection for vulnerable groups, her party is also monitoring the latest conditions on the ground.

According to preliminary data from the evacuation post, 31 families, or 98 people, were affected by the fire.

Of these, 32 are adult women and 32 children, including two toddlers.

Fauzi expressed hope for all affected residents to recover quickly and find the best solutions to rebuild their lives to normalcy.

"We will continue supporting children and women to recover physically and psychologically. We hope the victims are given strength, patience, and good health, so they can quickly resume their normal activities," the minister remarked.

In addition, the Jakarta Child Empowerment, Child Protection, and Population Control (DPPAPP) Center is also providing psychosocial support to children at evacuation posts.

One of the counselors, Dimas Astu Arimurti, said that his office held simple activities as an initial introduction to the children at the evacuation posts, through playing games and coloring.

According to him, the activity is expected to help affected children regain a sense of calm and comfort after experiencing the fire.

"If needed, we plan to return in the next few days to provide follow-up trauma healing sessions with different materials, tailored to the conditions of the children and mothers at the evacuation site. Currently, there is still one child in shock due to the fire," Arimurti explained.