The prolonged dry season has impacted several Gunungkidul Regency areas, making clean water difficult to access. In response, UGM, through the Disaster Response Unit (DERU), provided residents with 50,000 liters of clean water on Friday (October 6).
The UGM Director of Community Service, Dr. Rustamaji, MD, stated that the university provided clean water assistance to the residents of Tungu Hamlet, Gunungkidul Regency.
“UGM sent ten water tanks, each with a capacity of 5,000 liters. So, in total, we delivered 50,000 liters of clean water to the residents in Tungu Hamlet, Gunungkidul,” he explained on Tuesday (October 10) at UGM.
Dr. Rustamaji mentioned that UGM continues to make efforts in disaster management for drought-affected communities.
In its implementation, UGM collaborates with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Youth Disaster Response Team of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, the UGM Alumni Family (Kagama), partner villages, and community service partners.
Soon, UGM will also distribute clean water to meet the needs of drought-affected residents in Kalirejo, Kulon Progo. DERU will send 1 million liters of clean water to the affected areas, coordinated through the local government and BPBD.
“From surveys and assessments, it is clear that these areas are experiencing difficulties accessing clean water. Therefore, we will provide clean water assistance to them,” said Dr. Rustamaji.
“In addition to assessing the need for clean water, we also assessed potential sources of clean water in the surrounding areas that the community can use.”
One of the community heads in Tungu, Rahamadi, thanked UGM for assisting the residents.
“We are very grateful to the UGM Directorate of Community Service for the assistance. Currently, our main water source comes from donations and personal purchases, and these tanks will greatly help our community,” he said.
The UGM Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, Community Service, and Alumni, Dr. Arie Sudjito, stated that UGM is working to help vulnerable communities, especially in Gunungkidul, affected by a prolonged drought and its resulting socio-economic risks.
This initiative aims to reduce the burden on the community by assisting with distributing clean water.
“This is part of UGM’s commitment to helping the people from technical to strategic humanitarian issues. We will also expand student participation in various community service-related activities relevant to the community’s context,” he said.
Author: Ika
Photo: UGM Directorate of Community Service