Life Goes on at Displaced Persons Camp

Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta

Volunteers from the Humanitarian Solidarity Network perform trauma healing at the Semeru Eruption Refugee Command Post at Supiturang 4 Public Elementary School, Pronojiwo District, Lumajang Regency, East Java, Tuesday (7/12/2021).

A woman put eucalyptus oil on her stomach. She was a little nervous, waiting for her husband, Jumadi, to return from checking the condition of their house.

"I'm waiting for my husband. He hasn't returned. I want him to buy me food to eat. I haven't eaten since this morning. My stomach is starting to feel bad," said Suprihmiati (50), on Tuesday (7/12/2021).

The mother of one apparently did not get breakfast when she was transferred from the displaced persons post at Nurul Jadid Mosque to the displaced persons camp at SMP 02 state junior high school in Pronojiwo, Lumajang, East Java. The relocation was done so that people could find a more appropriate place to stay, namely staying in a room with walls. "I don’t want to beg [for food]. I am too ashamed to beg," she said.

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Sugiati (49), Suprihmiati's neighbor, also chose to remain silent if the social workers did not give them an aid package. Suprihmiati and Sugiati are survivors of the eruption of Mount Semeru. Their hamlet, namely Umbulan hamlet, Supiturang village, is closest to Curah Kobokan, which was most affected by the eruption of Mt. Semeru. Now Umbulan hamlet is razed to the ground.

However, coordination is not running optimally. This area is also separated from the Lumajang administration center because the Gladak Perak Bridge was cut off.

The hamlet residents have been displaced and are staying at SMP 02 state junior high school in Pronojiwo. This displaced persons camp is located on the west side of the Gladak Perak Bridge, which was cut off as a result of the Semeru eruption. The camp has a makeshift kitchen, logistics post, medical post and equipment for radio communication antennas. However, coordination is not running optimally. This area is also separated from the Lumajang administration center because the Gladak Perak Bridge was cut off.

It is not surprising that there are often local residents who do not stay at the displaced persons camps, but ask for basic necessities, food or other assistance. Meanwhile, the displaced persons did not receive any assistance.

KOMPAS/DAHLIA IRAWATI

Residents affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru took refuge in the school building of SMPN 02 Pronojiwo Lumajang, as seen on Tuesday (07/12/2021).

Some aid that is actually useful has also not been distributed properly, such as animal feed. The reason is that there are no village officials to record the residents' livestock. Several times, the residents were angry because they asked for basic necessities but the volunteers who were in charge of the displaced persons post in Supiturang village did not give them.

“This aid is indeed for displaced persons, but it must be recorded who received it. Not just shared. The goal is to be right on target and evenly distributed,” said Mansur (25), a coordinator at the Supiturang elementary school displaced persons camp, yesterday.

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According to Mansur, from when they began helping at the camp, there were no village officials or regional administration state apparatus to take care of the displaced persons. "Here, we the volunteers and the community work to get engaged. We hope the government is actively involved here because we lost in the data collection. Moreover, the number of volunteers and refugees is not balanced,” said the volunteer from YDSF Malang.

Regularly, displaced persons get their food from the makeshift kitchen next to the post.

Different conditions can be seen in the Kamarkajang displaced persons camp, Sumberwuluh village, Candipuro district, Lumajang. This area is still reachable by the Lumajang administration office. Aminah, one of the displaced persons, was still able to get proper baby clothes from donors who donated them to the refugee post at Nurul Huda Mosque, Kamarkajang. Regularly, displaced persons get their food from the makeshift kitchen next to the post.

Likewise, at the Sumberwuluh Village Hall evacuation post, which became a place for hundreds of residents of Renteng, Sumberwuluh, Krajan, Kebonagung and Kebondeli to stay. Although more organized, the condition of the evacuation is still an emergency. Toilet facilities are limited. This resulted in displaced persons choosing to move to other camps.

Displaced persons camps have not provided enough information about missing persons. There is no information about the latest developments posted in those places.

DOKUMENTASI YAYASAN DANA KEMANUSIAAN KOMPAS

Symbolically handing over the aid of Kompas readers to refugees from the eruption of Mount Semeru, in Lumajang Regency, East Java, Monday (6/12/2021).

The village head of Sumberwuluh, Abdul Aziz, said the lack of coordination may have occurred because the number of displaced persons in the village hall was fluctuating. Displaced persons come and go, making it difficult for data collection, coordination and fulfillment of needs, especially food, clothing and medicine. The head of Penanggal village, Cik Ono, said the same thing.

However, despite all the limitations, the survivors are still grateful. They can rely on nobody but the volunteers, officers, donors and people who help them selflessly.

(This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswoko).