MITIGATING NATURAL DISASTER IN THE MIDST OF LIMITATIONS: HUMAN SECURITY ISSUES IN OVERCOMING THREAT OF FLOOD IN CITARUM RIVER BASIN, INDONESIA

Abstract

Purpose: The article aims to analyze human security issues in the Citarum river basin, Indonesia, by taking the threat of flood in the Majalaya District as a case study. As the case has been increasing in recent years, wave the flood has become an inevitable source of fear for people living in the Citarum river basin in the rainy season. Environmental pollution due to massive industrialization, land function change, especially in the upstream area, and the absence of proper disaster mitigation from local government are problematized in this research. Methodology: Using the Human Security point of view, the article tries to show people’s perspectives in defining security and overcoming threats, especially relating to flood in the Citarum river basin. As for the method, the research uses a qualitative approach with a study case as an analytical strategy. We interviewed some informants who live in Majalaya District and found secondary data from the government’s and society’s documents and analyze it by using the Human Security approach. Principal Findings: This article shows how the society’s recognition and feeling on the environmental threat and organizes a limited community-based disaster mitigation system, which is called the ‘JagaBalai’ community, as an effort to build internal resilience and to overcome the risk and fear coming from the flood. Implications/Applications: The findings of this research contribute to the literature on Human Security concerns, especially those related to its elements of freedom of fear related to natural disasters or any other environmental issues. Novelty/Originality of this study: The current study fills the gap in the existing body of literature by analyzing the dynamics between an individual’s perspective and the state as a source of security in the Majalaya District, Indonesia, by using Human Security approach. This approach can be useful to describe the degree of disaster victims’ perceptions of fear and security and their relationship to government policies.