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ACTNews, JAKARTA,
WEST PASAMAN – A month after the earthquake that hit West Pasaman in late
February, the life of its residents has not returned to normal. Aksi Cepat
Tanggap (ACT) Vice President Dwiko Hari Dastriadi mentions the situation
in West Pasaman is still worrying. Dwiko also expresses his sadness that the
assistance for West Pasaman has decreased during the post-disaster recovery
period.
“In fact, the
post-disaster recovery period is an essential stage. Based on ACT’s Emergency
Response team’s data, over 6,000 houses were damaged, 1,000 of which suffered
major damages. The survivors are staying in tents because they have lost their
houses,” said Dwiko at the ACT headquarters in South Jakarta, Friday
(3/25/2022).
During the
emergency response phase, there were three main programs that ACT commenced,
namely rescue, medical services, and relief distribution.
Humanitarian
vehicles such as the Humanity Food Bus, Humanity Food Trucks, and Humanity
Water Tanks were deployed to West Pasaman to distribute meals and clean water.
In this phase, public kitchens were opened to facilitate meal distribution.
“These three emergency programs have benefitted at least 18,000 people,” added
Dwiko.
Now, ACT continues
to call on the community to support the recovery of West Pasaman. ACT has
designed several major programs, including the reconstruction of houses,
toilets, and mosques.
Dwiko adds, one of
the most urgent programs is the provision of housing because some of the
victims are still staying in tents.
In addition, ACT
also invites generous donors to support the reconstruction of public facilities
such as toilets, schools, and mosques. Since the earthquake, the evacuees have
been praying in tents, and learning activities have been held in open fields.
“We can improve
this situation with the support from the community. We can rebuild schools so
that the students no longer have to study under the sun. We can rebuild mosques
so the Muslim residents can pray more comfortably. As Ramadan is coming in a
week, it will be a pity if they can’t happily pray in Pasaman due to the lack
of mosques,” said Dwiko.
On the same occasion,
Indonesian Muslim Scholar Ustaz Amir Faishol says it is incumbent upon all
parts of the community to help the victims of natural disasters. “To the people who are not affected by the disaster, it
is a warning from Allah to be more grateful and careful of what Allah
has given us by using it for the obedience to Allah, including by donating to
help the disaster victims. To the disaster victims, Allah commands them to be patient,
content, and to submit to Allah,” said Ustaz Amir.
Dear generous
donors, you can take part in the recovery of West Pasaman by delivering your
assistance to ACT branch offices throughout Indonesia. You can also take part
by donating through the Indonesia Dermawan crowdfunding site. []
