WEST JAVA — The earthquake that shook Bandung Regency on Wednesday (18/09/2024) morning prompted Dompet Dhuafa West Java and the Disaster Management Center (DMC) to immediately distribute humanitarian assistance. In the evening, the volunteer team has successfully distributed 40 baby blankets and 16 elderly blankets to residents who took refuge in Lapangsari tent, Cibeureum Village, Kertasari District.
Taqi Falsafati, the person in charge of handling the Bandung Earthquake Response from DMC Dompet Dhuafa, said that in addition to blankets for babies and the elderly, the DMC team had also distributed tarpaulins to build temporary shelters for residents in Cihawuk Village.
“We distributed 40 baby blankets and a dozen blankets for the elderly. Then we have also distributed tarpaulins to build temporary shelters for residents in Cihawuk Village,” he reported through a short video, on Wednesday (09/18/2024) evening, in Kertasari.
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Based on the results of the field assessment, the earthquake caused damage to a number of houses, ranging from minor to severe. Cold weather with temperatures reaching 10 degrees Celsius in the evacuation site made it even more difficult for the survivors, especially children and the elderly. The fear of aftershocks also added to their worries.
Humanitarian assistance efforts by the Dompet Dhuafa DMC team will continue until the situation becomes conducive again. The latest data from Pusdalops PB BPBD West Java Province and DMC Dompet Dhuafa shows that as many as 21,714 people were affected by this earthquake, with 710 people forced to flee. While material losses due to this disaster are quite significant, including 3,394 housing units, 34 educational facilities, 59 places of worship, 8 health facilities, and 19 offices and other buildings.
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To meet the urgent needs of the survivors, Dompet Dhuafa and DMC are still trying to collect aid in the form of tarpaulins, blankets, ready-to-eat food, and other logistical needs. Until now, the volunteer team is still actively evacuating, setting up evacuation tents, and distributing aid. Good friends who want to donate can channel their assistance through the Dompet Dhuafa post located on Jl. Martanegara No. 22a, Turangga, Lengkong, Bandung.
In addition, good friends can also channel donations through digital.dompetdhuafa.org/donation/indonesiasiapsiaga. Let us pray that the people of Bandung Regency will remain strong and recover soon. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Riza Muthohar, Arifian Fajar
Editor: Dhika Prabowo