Summary of Preliminary Findings (based on field observation and field study, Scientific Expedition UTM to Kundasang, 30 Nov 2015)

Four study methods applied for this field study including:1. Observation2. Questionnaire survey (guided-interview)3. Unstructured interview4. FGD – focus group discussion

Impacts from the earthquake

1. Economy Farmers – farming activity affected by soil erosion, landslide,

water supply issue and road damaged (no access road to farm area). Farming practice has been changing from monocrop to variation of crops (particularly with shorter harvesting period)

“Tamu” traders (peniaga tamu) – supply of vegetables badly disrupted. Significant reduction/decline of customers especially among foreign workers since many of them moved somewhere else (or return back to Indonesia) because they still traumatise by the earthquake

Hotel – lower tourist visitation, high cancellation rate, decline income up to 50% as compared to before earthquake

2. Infrastructure Damage of main road to Mesilou – affect daily activity and crucial

transportation of vegetable to the local market Disruption of water supply – involving Ranau town and all

Kundasang area

3. Environment Soil erosion widely occurred in Kundasang area Mud flood – changing the physical of river

4. Housing – multiple cracks were observed on housing structures and also there was one house totally damaged by mud flood and debris flow

5. Social – spirit of togetherness is strong. People within and outside the community come together to help. Local people collect money to buy cow (buffalo/sogit) for prayer. Local people of Kundasang provide a centre for collecting clean/drinking water and food particularly rice)

Local community have quite high level on disaster awareness. During the interview, many of them directly know (aware) the event of June 2015 was an earthquake. They also know where to go (safe place) i.e. open area during the event. For instance:

1. A 72 years old women (grandmother) from Kampung Dampuring Bawah did mentioned she had to run out of her house to the front yard with her kids and grandkids during the event

2. Masih Bte Rasimun (Kg Purakagis and also a tamu trader) did mentioned she run out of hospital to an open area. Her 14 years old son (which admitted to Ranau Hospital due to diabetic treatment) was informed by hospitalstaff to take cover/shelter under the bed. She did mentioned that her son was informed/expose about safety procedure during earthquake by his school

Relationship between communities are very close and good. They can cooperate well during disaster and in peace time. For instance:

1. Kampung Dumpiring Atas – according to PJKK, entire community give full cooperation and support in any village activities including community sports day, “gotong-royong” (people working together), having fitness club, dancing and cultural performance group.

2. Kampung Mesilou – Head of the village did mentioned the community has successfully organised for the 4th times (annual event) called “Mesilouthon” (similar to Marathon event). Local community in the village also very supportive during “gotong-royong” session to repair water supply system (gravity pipe). Material (pipe was supplied by people from outside of community).

3. Kindship factor played vital role in strengthening relationship among local community. They have family members mostly in every villages in Kundasang. Kinship and strong support from family members as we observed could be one of the core value for enhancing community resilience towards disaster.

Community dependency to foreign aid (i.e. from outside community) is remain high, for instance:

1. Kampung Dumpiring Atas – cracks on their houses still left without meaningful attempt to repair as many of them are still waiting government aid or assistance (special grant for house repair)

2. Kampung Mesilou – some of our respondents did mention they wanted to move out from the area (with high risk/highly likely to be affected by earthquake again, maybe move to much safer area), and they are still waiting for appropriate actions to be taken by the government

Cultural factor, and including financial incapability could pose limit to their ability to be independent and reduce dependency to foreign aid.

It is not clear, at least based on our interview and FGD, how local community react or taking appropriate actions to reduce/manage disaster risk in their vicinity. Many of respondents seems aware their village is expose to earthquake and other types of disasters (or at least risk from disasters) which occurred more than once in few years. However, up to date there is no tangible effort has been taken to reduce disaster risk. Field observation and interview indicated the following efforts (small but positive) by local community (only in specific cases):

1. Dumpiring Atas – planning trees around the village to prevent soil erosion/landslide.

2. Lembah Permai – Wrapped important documents with plastic cover, storing water in big buckets/gallons and prepare emergency bag.

Respondents were aware about climate change and earthquake, however their concerns did not further discussed / no follow up with local authority. For instance:

1. Head of village of Mesilou – sound of roasters (ayam berkokok) during late evening/night time

2. Sungai Kedamaian – murky water and easy to catch fish (at the beginning residents think of Tsunami?)

Local community shown high ability/adaptation to disaster. For instance, cracked houses and soil exposure to erosion (landslide) did not deter residents from the area (instead, many of them remined in the area, living in cracked houses and continue with daily activities as usual). Higher adaptation as we observed is closely related to internal strength of community particularly from their culture and high self-believe/self-potential.

Modernisation in economic sectors (mainly in agriculture and tourism) bring social impact/change/transformation to local community (and shaping their livelihood to some extend). For instance, many worker in farms are foreign labours (Indonesian) employed by local farmers. Arrival of foreign tourists and stayed in local hotels or homestays bring positive and negative influence to local people (drug issue among local community).

Due to earthquake and landslide + debris flow + mud flood, residents in Mesilou suffered the most as compared to other four villages. They still in deep trauma

Community in all five villages are vulnerable to disaster (high exposure). They aware their village/area might not safe/not spare from disaster however did not take meaningful actions/strategies to mitigate those problems/not really address their concern.

Photos during field study and interview using handphone:

Tamu market (Kawasan tamu hari Jumaat)

Dumpiring Bawah

Lembah Permai

Pengurus restoran Balsam – En. Khairul

District Office of Ranau – Penolong Pegawai Daerah

Questionnaire survey – disaster awareness day

Dumpiring Atas

Kampung Melisou

Impact of disaster/earthquake – business closure / ceased operation

Group photo – Social and community development cluster

Lembah Permai, Kundasang. View from Zoraini Homestay.

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