Disaster Early Response Unit Team (DERU) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) distributed as many as 25 units of wheel chairs, 6 units of solar cell panels, 22 handy-talkies, and 1,300 textbooks for survivors of the earthquake in Padang Pariaman Regency, West Sumatera. The handover was conducted on Saturday (6/2) and Sunday (7/2) by a member of DERU UGM Team, Dr. Irkham Widiono, accompanied by a staff of UGM Public Relations office, Gusti Grehenson.
The aid was cooperation between LPPM UGM (Institute of Research and Community Service), UGM Foundation, and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Wheels for Humanity Indonesia that was handed over to disabled people in several villages and hamlets. Previously, the disabled people were registered by KKN students for West Sumatera Disaster Phase I and II, lasting from October 2009 to January 2010. “One of the activities at that time was to register people who were unable to move around and therefore needed the wheelchairs,†Irkham said.
Irkham said that there were only few people having physical disabilities because of the earthquake. For instance, Nasril (55), citizen of Nagari Simpang Empat Singguling I, looked happy when UGM team gave him the wheelchair. The bachelor who has been disabled since 2 years old could not hide his happiness after getting the walker. He was happy because he does not need to ask the help of others anymore.
The happiness was also expressed by Erlaili (41) because her first son, Yofie (21) finally got the wheelchair. So that she does not have to carry him to move somewhere else.
It is true that there are few disabled people in Padang Pariaman because of the earthquake. “Unlike Jogjakarta, disabled people due to collapsing buildings are rare here, because most of the roof of their house is made from zinc,’ said Yuenkarnova, S.E, Regional Secretary of Padang Pariaman Regency.
Aid of Solar Cells and Communication Device
As many as six solar cell panels and 22 communication devices in aid were also given for Nagari Tandikat, Patamuan sub-district, Padang Pariaman Regency and Nagari Tanjungsani, Tanjung Raya sub-district, Agam Regency. According to Irkham, the solar cell panels will be utilized as energy supplier for Handy-Talky in supporting the early warning system against landslides in two vulnerable regions. “These devices will be placed in public areas and managed by related villages,†he added.