On Thursday, April 15, 2021, the Yayasan Inspirasi Indonesia Membangun (YIIM), based in Jakarta, together with KOMPAK (Komunitas Peace Maker Kupang) – Orang Muda Lintas Agama, distributed social assistance to residents affected by Tropical Cyclone Seroja.

This program is in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Number 2 to end hunger.

The assistance provided included basic food necessities (rice, eggs, cooking oil, sugar), COVID-19 prevention items (masks, hand sanitizer, washing soap), and Dignity Kits (sanitary pads, toddler diapers, elderly diapers, telon oil, baby soap).

The distribution included 34 basic food packages for general households, 5 food packages for households with toddlers, and 6 for households with elderly people, making a total of 45 assistance packages. Specifically, 45 food and hygiene kits were distributed to residents spread across the villages of Bakunase, Sikumana, Oepura, Oeba, Fatululi, Kelapa Lima, Oesapa Barat, Lasiana, and Penfui Village, as well as West Kupang in the Kupang Regency area. The beneficiaries consisted of 30 men and 15 women (11 elderly, 5 toddlers).

The Kupang City residents receiving assistance were those who had returned home from evacuation camps with severely damaged houses — including detached roofs, leaning bamboo houses, collapsed walls — as well as elderly people who could no longer move around, and persons with disabilities who were in the process of repairing their homes.

For YIIM and KOMPAK, this social assistance is not only a humanitarian action but also aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Number 16 on combating poverty and Number 2 on preventing hunger, particularly in the post-disaster context.

The distribution was coordinated directly by Mr. Chrisbiantoro, Chairman of the YIIM Board, to Zarniel Woleka, Mentor of Komunitas Peace Maker Kupang.

The Head of RT 07, Sikumana Village, Mr. Yarid Saudila (an area whose residents received assistance), stated: “Thank you to YIIM for the assistance provided to the residents of Sikumana affected by the Seroja disaster. This basic food assistance is very useful and highly needed by residents who are struggling to rebuild their homes while still having to secure food. Moreover, the residents helped truly had not yet received any aid, so this is very helpful.”

Likewise, Mama Ferderika Pono (a resident of Sikumana Village and aid recipient) expressed her deep gratitude for the assistance from Yayasan Inspirasi Indonesia Membangun, saying this assistance is very helpful for her and her family. “Thank you for the sincerity. May it continue to be an inspiration for Indonesia.”

Ningsi Bunga (Chairperson of KOMPAK) also conveyed: “Thank you to YIIM for giving attention to the affected residents in Kupang City, specifically working together with KOMPAK to identify groups of residents/households with elderly people, toddlers, and disabilities. Because the affected area is quite vast and the number of affected residents is enormous, covering 20 districts in NTT, YIIM’s assistance has been very helpful in reaching those most severely affected and who have not yet been reached by aid.”

Mr. Ely Tufu (a resident of Bakunase Village) also expressed his gratitude for the assistance provided by Yayasan Inspirasi Indonesia Membangun. “This disaster damaged my house. We have to start rebuilding, so we are very happy to receive food support. This allows us to focus on repairing our home because we already have basic food supplies. Thank you very much.”

“As a community of young people across faiths, given the large number of residents affected by Seroja, indicators such as residents with special needs and religious representation were taken into consideration in the distribution of assistance. Therefore, the strategy that KOMPAK used was to build coordination with focal points in the villages, such as village staff, RT heads, and KOMPAK network volunteers, to ensure beneficiaries were identified by name by address,” emphasized Ningsi.

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