IPB University Steps Up to Help Address the Impact of the Sumatra Disaster
The floods that hit Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra have touched all of our hearts. As fellow Indonesians, IPB University has prepared a number of measures to contribute to addressing the impact of the disaster.
The Rector of IPB University, Dr Alim Setiawan, said that there are three steps prepared, namely short-term, medium-term, and long-term.
“The short-term is emergency response. At this stage, IPB University is collaborating with the Independent Volunteer Action (ARM) of the IPB Alumni Association (HA) to carry out quick response actions by identifying needs at the disaster location,” said the Rector.
He continued, “We are conducting actions such as fundraising, sending food aid, medicines, piping to distribute clean water, satellite-based internet equipment packages, and sending doctors, lecturers, and students to provide health and nutrition services.”
“IPB also provided psychological assistance and recovery for victims, especially vulnerable groups, children, the elderly, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.” The Rector emphasized, “ARM-HA is IPB University’s spearhead in field actions in disaster areas.”
The Rector further mentioned that on December 6, the Marandang Basamo action (cooking 1 ton of beef rendang) was carried out in collaboration with several parties, including the Minang Alumni, Student, and Student Association (PAPMM) and Paragon. “This rendang is packaged using technology developed by IPB so that it can be preserved for delivery to disaster locations,” he said.
In addition to rendang, other IPB University innovation-based food products were also sent, such as ready-to-eat sterilized rice, baby and elderly porridge, cream soup, nutritious biscuits, and other innovative products. “We incorporate IPB University’s innovation in these products, while also focusing on protecting vulnerable groups,” said the Rector.
The IPB University team that went to the disaster location will also conduct educational activities for local residents in the disaster area and the Campus Command Post team in the manufacture of these emergency food products.
The Rector added, “In the short term, we are also identifying IPB University students who have been affected. We are collecting data and clustering so that aid can be distributed evenly. One of them is a free dinner program, in addition to subsidized lunches at Warung Kita (a subsidized food stall owned by IPB to help students in need). More than 2.000 IPB University students have been affected by this disaster,” said the Rector.
For the medium term (1-6 months ahead), which is the rehabilitation period, the Rector said that IPB University has prepared a number of measures, including strengthening the transition from emergency food to more stable food, continued psychosocial recovery, agricultural reactivation, reviving micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and reviewing the single tuition fee (UKT) for students affected by the disaster.
“Kemdiktisaintek is funding four proposals submitted by IPB University for emergency response and rehabilitation, namely logistics distribution, health and nutrition services, psychosocial assistance, and disaster mitigation and education,” added the Rector.
For the long term, the Rector mentioned that IPB University will implement various affirmative policies prioritized for disaster-affected areas, such as Thematic Community Service Programs (KKN), the Faculty Service Program, scholarships for new students from disaster-affected regions, and various studies/research/policy briefs on disaster management. (*/Rz) (IAAS/LAN)
