Palu Returns the Favor

Humanity often reaches its peak during a disaster. Social solidarity could influence people’s conscience, including those living in Central Sulawesi, to raise funds for victims of the earthquake in West Sulawesi.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

A baby falls asleep in a 6.2 magnitude earthquake evacuation tent outside Manakarra Stadium, Mamuju, West Sulawesi, Saturday (16/1/2021) night. Survivors need food or groceries because their supplies are running low.

MAMUJU, KOMPAS – While they have yet to fully recover from an earthquake in 2018, residents of Central Sulawesi, particularly Palu, are sympathizing with victims of the recent earthquake in West Sulawesi.

Within two days, volunteers from the Central Sulawesi Muhammadiyah Disaster Management (MDMC) have received two tons of basic need items for victims of the earthquake in Mamuju regency, West Sulawesi. Aid packages were distributed through the Central Sulawesi MDMC’s post at Fastabiqulkhaerat Muhammadiyah Mosque complex in Mamuju on Monday (18/1/2021) afternoon.

Also read: Mamuju in Total Darkness

“Public response was very rapid. This is the fastest collection of donations with the largest number that we’ve ever received,” said Central Sulawesi MDMC head of organization Fery El Shirinja.

Ruslan Sangaji (45), a resident of Palu, has also raised donations through his network in Alumni Corps of Central Sulawesi Islamic Student Association. To date, 1.5 ton of donated items have been collected, and the number is still growing.

Public response was very rapid. This is the fastest collection of donations with the largest number that we’ve ever received.

Ruslan raises donations as a form of solidarity with fellow victims of natural disasters. His house completely collapsed after the earthquake, tsunami and soil liquefaction which occurred in Palu on September 28, 2018. Having received assistance during his darkest time, Ruslan is now determined to bring help. “The spirit of humanity has become our motivation to take action collectively,” said Ruslan.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Aerial photo of the evacuation tent for victims of the 6.2 magnitude earthquake outside the Manakarra Stadium, Mamuju, West Sulawesi, Saturday (16/1/2021) night.

Bromangge, a cycling community in Palu, has also raised donations for victims of the earthquake in West Sulawesi. One truck of aid packages has been sent with the help of West Sulawesi Police and Mamuju Precint Police.

“West Sulawesi residents were among the first people who helped us after an earthquake and tsunami devastated Palu. This [donations] shows our concern and gratitude toward our brothers and sisters in West Sulawesi,” said Zulfikar, head of Palu Bromangge, while distributing assistance yesterday.

Municipal/regency and provincial administrations in Central Sulawesi have also prepared basic need items to be distributed in West Sulawesi. Since Friday, Central Sulawesi administration and Palu administration have organized a public kitchen at West Sulawesi Governor’s office building to feed volunteers and refugees.

Also read: Strengthening Unity in Facing Disasters

Not only logistics, Palu Disaster Mitigation Agency has also shared their experiences in collecting data on victims and recording the aftermath of earthquake to stakeholders in Mamuju. Data collection is crucial in disaster mitigation.

Kinship

Human solidarity between West Sulawesi and its neighboring regions is interwoven with a sense of kinship and local norms. Rahmat Muhammad, a sociologist from Hasanuddin University, said West Sulawesi, in which residents are mostly members of Mandar tribe, served as a knot which connected South Sulawesi and Central Sulawesi.

Values of kinship and humanity have long been embedded in the local society. The Mandar and Kaili communities living in Palu hold similar beliefs with the Bugis community’s principles of sipakatau (respect each other), sipakainge (remind each other) and sipakalebbi (appreciate each other). The Mandar community adopts a set of principles, which consists of pappasang (respect each other), sipakalqbi (appreciate each other), siasayangni (treat each other with care), sianoang paqmaiq (love each other) and sitando-tandoi (give and take).

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

The Palu bicycle community distributes aid to earthquake survivors at the Budit Dayang refugee camp, Mamuju, West Sulawesi, Monday (18/1/2021).

Pawennari Hijjang, an anthropologist from Hasanuddin University, said Indonesians, particularly those in Sulawesi, upheld certain beliefs which create a strong solidarity with people around them in both happy and difficult situations.

“During a party, for instance, people will express their solidarity by helping those who organize the party. Their solidarity gets even stronger amid a disaster, when others’ lives are at stake,” said Pawennari.

Also read: Some Palu Residents Still at Risk of Earthquakes

It is not surprising, thus, that the 2018 World Giving Index by Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) put Indonesia as the most generous nation in the world. In the 2020 Legatum Prosperity Index, Indonesia also ranked sixth in terms of social capital.

Thousands evacuated

The 6.2 magnitude earthquake that rocked Mamuju on Friday (15/1) morning has brought profound sadness. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency recorded that as on Monday afternoon, 84 people had died, while 679 people suffered from mild injuries and 253 others were heavily injured following the earthquake. Furthermore, 19,435 people had been evacuated.

Assistance is urgently needed to help victims of the earthquake in West Sulawesi, especially since many have reportedly not received any assistance yet. For instance, queues of earthquake victims waiting for assistance in Mamuju deputy regent’s house had to be dispersed after the supply of aid packages ran out. Many children need diapers in evacuation camps.

Also read: Recovery Lags in Central Sulawesi

Amid this difficult situation, the local government and residents are asked to remain cautious of potential aftershocks and landslides due to heavy rainfall. On the other hand, the lack of health protocol implementation among refugees and in queues for assistance may lead to a spike of Covid-19 cases.

This article was translated by Astria Z. Nabila.