UNS — Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta sent another volunteer task force to assist people affected by the Mount Semeru eruption on Tuesday (14/12/2021). The group is the second batch of the Mount Semeru task force sent by UNS. The first batch of the task force was sent to Semeru on Sunday (5/12/2021), followed by the second batch after ten days of the program.
Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation Affairs UNS, Prof. Dr. Kuncoro Diharjo, S.T., M.T. explained that this second operation is medical support instead of evacuation. Prof. Kuncoro emphasizes this to the 13 volunteers who will work in the next ten days.
“I emphasized once more that according to the guideline from the university executives, your main duty is assisting the healthcare team and dan trauma healing. But if evacuation is unavoidable, it does not rule out the possibility to move (into that duty),” Prof. Kuncoro stated.
Prof. Kuncoro also explained that the 2nd batch of taskforce consists of 13 volunteers. Three volunteers from VAGUS, three volunteers from SAR UNS, two volunteers from UNS Alumni Association (IKA), two people from KSR UNS, and three people from the Disaster Study Center (PSB) LPPM UNS. These 13 volunteers will join five medical volunteers from UNS Hospital stationed in the affected locations.
The team also brought a stress healing team from PSB LPPM UNS and KSR UNS. Prof. Kuncoro mentioned that he had contacted the Central Java Police Chief who had sent a trauma healing team to the location. “I hope UNS trauma healing team contact Central Java Police to collaborate,” Prof. Kuncoro added.
The stress healing team was added to the second batch based on the need analysis in the affected areas. The local people affected by the eruption have started to feel the social impact of the disaster, as reported by the first batch Commando for Semeru Taskforce, Agung.
“Currently, ten days after the eruption, possible because of the environmental condition and the affected people, they started to get physical and psychological issues. That is why we have a complete team from medical personnel and psychologists,” Agung stated.
The second batch of UNS Semeru Taskforce departed to the UNS health post in SMP 1 Candipuro, Lumajang District, East Java. The post sheltered 1,154 evacuees of the Mount Semeru eruption. The team also received one house in the local housing as their center for coordination.
Besides sending the volunteers, the ceremony also handed donations collected from three institutes: Lazis UNS and Unit Pengumpul Zakat (UPZ) with IDR 25 million donations, Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) UNS with IDR 20 million donations, and IKA UNS with IDR 5 million donations. Humas UNS
Reporter: Ida Fitriyah
Editor: Dwi Hastuti