When it comes to disasters, not much surprises me anymore. But the devastation in the area surrounding Palu, Indonesia is something that has to be seen to be believed. Not the tsunami zone – which thankfully is quite limited. And not the hillside communities springing up – many of them are remarkably well set given what their residents encountered. But the devastation found in the liquefaction areas is beyond belief.
Our team has had the privilege of coaching a local organisation in its response to these disasters. During the process, I’ve been reminded of three important principles for working cross-culturally with local responders.