UMP students helped victims of earthquake in Lombok

By: MUHAMMAD ASYRAF HASAN, SECRETARY OF HUMANITY MISSION

       PROGRAMME, ‘LET’S HELP LOMBOK EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS’ AND MOHD.  

       FERDAUS MUSA, CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIVISION

Touched by the plight affected by victims of the earthquake in Lombok, whose homes were damaged and whose lost their loved ones in the disaster that happened on July 29, 2018, and again on August 6 and 19, 2018, a group of 10 Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) students organised a humanity mission and were in the country from December 7 until 11, 2018.

The mission, ‘Let’s Help Lombok Earthquake Victims’, was organised by Residential College Student Representative (PEKA) 2, with the cooperation of Vice-Chancellor Office, Lombok’s Mataram Teaching and Knowledge Institute (IKIP) and Indonesia’s Aksi Cepat Tanggap (ACT), a non-governmental organisation.

Their destination was Desa Selengen, Kecamatan Kayangan which was located at north of Lombok, Indonesia. Lombok was badly affected by the earthquake.

According to the Programme Director, Muhammad Sa’id Rifqi Muhammad Musal from Faculty of Engineering Technology, the mission was an eye-opener for the volunteers and that it was a learning experience in strengthening their values in volunteerism.

“The values were something that could be practised in everyday life,” he added.

“There were a lot activities carried out such as repairing the water drainage system to the storage tank of a temporary mosque, cleaning up areas from building materials that had collapsed due to the earthquake and strengthening the infrastructure of the mosque.

“We helped to repair several homes and provided water drainage system from the hill to the mosque, lavatories and bathrooms for the locals to use,” he said, adding they also took time off to mingle with the locals, distributed ice-creams and held motivational programme for the children.

One the volunteers, Muhammad Aimran Amzar Kamarudin from Faculty of Civil Engineering & Earth Resources (FKASA) said he was grateful to be part of the mission group and to see for himself the aftermath of a natural disaster.

“It was also a reminder on the greatness of Allah,” he added.

The UMP students also took the opportunity to share their experience with students from Mataram IKIP, Lombok.