UGM-Kagama Care Kunjungi Posko Pengungsian Korban Bencana di Sigi
UGM-Kagama Care Kunjungi Posko Pengungsian Korban Bencana di Sigi
“We hope what comes in is not only financial aid but also counselling after the disaster,” said Resmi, chief of Lolu refuge village in Biromaru district, Sigi regency.
He made the statement during the visit made by UGM and Kagama Care on Saturday evening (20/10). Lolu village experienced the 7.4 scale earthquake that hit Donggala, Palu and the surroundings on 28 September 2018. The earthquake that was followed by tsunami and liquefaction had destroyed the cities of Palu, Donggala, and Sigi.
Resmi said Lolu village had been made into a refuge because the land condition was more stable than its surroundings. “Despite the earthquake impacts, Lolu village has been more stable unlike the Petobo village that has suffered from liquefaction,” he said.
Since last week, UGM student volunteers have come to the refuge. The UGM students came from various disciplines or the second batch after the first batch of medical team in early October.
The student team is expected to intensify the distribution of logistic aid. “We have distributed aid gradually. But with these student volunteers, we hope the recovery will be expedited,” said Sandiaga Yudha, Kagama Care representative.
Going forward, Yudha hoped the students would also give other assistance apart from logistics. “Like what happened in Lombok where we can finally give assistance in the form of guidance on designing tourism programme,” he said.
Dendy Dyandra Putra, one of the volunteers, said they had planned several programmes beside logistic distribution, namely Happy School (psycho-social school for children), and toilet construction.
Coordinator of the refugee camp, Fatkhurrahman, appreciated the work of the students. “Their guidance and programme are really beneficial. The system also makes it easier,” he said. He hoped the programme would run further until the condition has been restored.
This is responded by drg. Ika Dewi Ana, M.Kes., Ph.D., UGM Vice-Rector for Research and Community Service. She said UGM and Kagama Care would continue give guidance to rebuild the areas. “In order for it to work well, we ask for your input on what we can do here,” she said.
Ika said UGM programme would not run shortly. “We are inspired by Japan that is also disaster prone. Our duty is to raise awareness among our children against disaster,” she said.
UGM Director for Community Service, Prof. Ir. Irfan Dwidya Prijambada, M.Eng., Ph.D., added UGM planned to build temporary shelters made from light steel. It just takes two days to build but it will stand for 15 years.
“We are preparing the team for the project and we will start here in December,” he said.
Irfan said UGM would also ask the local residents to try and build the shelters together. “Hence, we would like to have your support and cooperation for this project,” he said.