The UGM Directorate of Community Service (DPkM), which manages the Disaster Response Unit (DERU), has sent a team to distribute necessities to residents affected by the earthquake in the Bawean Islands, Gresik, East Java (Apr. 1).
The earthquake that occurred on Friday (Mar. 22) with a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale shook Tuban Regency, East Java, including the Bawean Islands region in Gresik Regency that was affected.
The Bawean Islands and UGM have long been collaborating, including activities such as the UGM Community Service Program (KKN-PPM) and various studies with the Gresik Regency Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda).
Before handing over the aid at the main disaster response post in Bawean, the UGM team led by Dr. Djarot Heru Santosa, Secretary of DPkM, held a meeting with the Gresik Regency Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), led by Havy Wardana, Head of the Research and Innovation Division of Gresik Regency. The meeting discussed the continuity of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) collaboration with Gresik Regency.
After the meeting, the UGM team, accompanied by Gresik Bappeda officials, went to the Gresik Regency Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) office and was received directly by the Head of BPBD, Sukardi.
During the meeting, BPBD Gresik provided an update on the delivery of aid to residents affected by the earthquake on Bawean Island, including the challenges faced.
“Until now, the challenge has been the lack of available ships that can dock at any time, so some trucks carrying aid still need to queue at the port waiting for the next ship’s departure schedule,” he explained.
Several alternative solutions are needed to overcome the challenges so that aid can be distributed to affected residents. Potential community service programs from UGM that can be implemented in Bawean were also discussed during the meeting.
“Through DPkM, UGM will send regular Community Service Program students in July-August and, if necessary, will also open a Disaster Relief Community Service Program after receiving the assessment results from BPBD conducted on-site, as there are still over 400 aftershocks around Bawean at the time of this publication,” he concluded.
Source: DERU Team
Editor: UGM Public Relations