YOGYAKARTA – About 13 students and 41 lecturers from Universitas Gadjah Mada in Japan are confirmed safe after the earthquake and tsunami struck Japan last Saturday. There are no reports mentioning them become victims. However, the Office of International Affairs UGM continues to contact the family, embassies and universities in Japan to ensure their actual condition.
"So far they are in safe condition. There are 13 students and 41 lecturers of UGM who are studying in Japan," Head of International Office UGM, Dr. Rahmat Sriwijaya, told reporters on Monday (14/3).
Rachmat added that his office was currently collecting data from faculties and departments related to the condition of students and lecturers in Japan because some of them live in the affected areas. "Up to now we’re working with faculties and departments to collect information," he said.
Rachmat said they had already contacted and gathered 25 Japanese students in UGM on Monday afternoon (14/3). The gathering is to ensure the condition of their families in Japan. Besides, UGM will assist Japanese students whose families became victims.
"We want to give simpathy and moral support as well as ensure the condition of their families who became victims," he said. While at UGM, the Japanese students will be facilitated to communicate and coordinate with their family through the Japanese embassy in Indonesia. "We will help ease their difficulties in terms of communication with families and coordination through government," he said.
Rahmat said, the majority of Japanese students in UGM were currently joining Indonesian Language and Culture Learning Service (Inculs) at Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM.