SLEMAN (KU) – Dozens of students joining the Clinic of Environment and Disaster Mitigation, Faculty of Geography Universitas Gadjah Mada volunteered to help people affected by the Merapi eruption. They are assigned in camps in SD Kiyaran I and TK Kiyaran, Wukirsari, Cangkringan, Sleman. Every day, these students help logistical needs of people who came from Pelemsari, Kinahrejo, and Ngerangkah. "Every day, we serve up to 3000-5000 meals for them," said Sadam Hussein, one of the volunteers who was met in SD Kiyaran on Wednesday (3/11).
These students have been in the post since Saturday. At first, the action was done at their own initiative. Furthermore, the faculty also supports by channeling aid directly to the post. "There are about 20 volunteers here. Every 2 days, the Faculty sends a team with different people," he said.
In accordance with their science field, the students of Geography class 2008 also make clean kitchen and toilets. "We focus more on the public kitchen here, so its cleanliness should be maintained," he said.
Accustomed to serving the needs in large quantities, the students seemed to get used to wrap rice quickly. To serve the demand for free lunch pack, they set up a tent in front of the school. Inside the tent, there are two tables to store rice, side dishes, and vegetables. Anyone in need just asked the student volunteers to wrap the rice.
Principal of SD Kiyaran I, Erna Nurhidayati said that in Kiyaran kindergarten and elementary school buildings currently there are about 1,300 IDPs. Since Saturday, teaching and learning activities have been closed because of the volcanic ash on Saturday, making people in Umbulharjo panick and ran for life. Some stayed in this school. "Tomorrow on Wednesday (2/ 11), students will learn to join with students from SD Kiyaran II," he said.