Jakarta, NU Online
Last Saturday’s earthquake in Yogyakarta and Central Java has awakened public concern including young generation that so-called as Nahdlatul Ulama Students Association (IPNU).
 
25 members of  Blitar’s IPNU, East Java arrived at Bantul, Saturday (10/6). They pitched a tent as temporary place taking in refugees for the destruction about 95% of residents’ houses exactly in Conden, Jetis, and Bantul. They reportedly would help Saturday’s victims for a week.

<>Solidarity act conducted by Blitar’s IPNU activists was likely not the same as others. They did not concentrate on collecting humanitarian relief such as money, small and large tents, mats, blankets, oil lamps, electric lamps, electrical chargers, fold out mattresses, clothing, gloves, mask, sarongs, tinned or dry food, milk, staple foods (rice), instant noodles, biscuits, mineral water, medicines and supplements, prayer kits, stoves, torches, sanitary pads, bath equipment (buckets), and others. But they helped villagers to rebuild their houses.

“We have no many materials to be distributed to the victims. That is why we would like to help them in real action, say that we help them to clean building ruins at noon,” the coordinator M. Makrus Masfuri said.

At the same time they also undertook such a healing of trauma by teaching the school age children of Qur’anic education (TPA) and meditation to bring them closer to Almighty together with old people at night.

Concerning the existence of the Blitar’s young volunteers, one of local prominent men, Badimin, serving as Village’s administrative section head of Conden, admitted that he was personally touched by their activity.

“We admire their action. They have worked hard and sincere. Yes, we need logistic aid and so on. But their coming here made us happy. Apparently, many young generations still have high care in the disaster,” Badimin said. (ron)