MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC) deployed an assistance team to Flores Timur, East Nusa Tenggara, in response to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki. The team, composed of medical and education specialists, departed on Wednesday, November 6.
Budi Setiawan, the Chair of MDMC, confirmed the deployment, stating, “The assistance team consists of medical and education experts. We are sending the team to provide immediate support to the affected communities.”
Since the eruption on Monday, November 4, Universitas Muhammadiyah Maumere (Unimof) has been actively assisting the affected residents. As a Muhammadiyah-‘Aisyiyah university with a strong focus on education, Unimof has been well-positioned to provide support in the aftermath of the disaster.
“They have been working closely with the local disaster management agency and have deployed their teams to the affected areas,” Budi explained.
In addition to providing immediate relief, Muhammadiyah, through MDMC, has been distributing essential supplies and logistics. The organization plans to provide long-term support, especially in the areas of education and health.
“We understand that thousands of people have been affected by this disaster. Therefore, the Unimof team will be providing emergency education to these children,” Budi said.
Budi emphasized the importance of establishing emergency education facilities within a week of the eruption. He noted that, based on expert assessments, the emergency phase of the disaster could last up to two months. As a result, the construction of temporary shelters may not be necessary.
“Our focus right now is on providing medical and educational support,” he added.
Budi acknowledged the challenges of deploying the assistance team to Flores Timur, given the remote location and the need to travel by air to Kupang followed by a long overland and sea journey, which can take up to 15 hours. Despite these challenges, Muhammadiyah remains committed to providing aid to those in need.
