A humanitarian operation still needs troops to manage it. Braving the cold morning air and hot stoves, soldiers from the Indonesian Military (TNI) cook food for earthquake survivors in Cianjur, West Java.
By
ERIKA KURNIA, ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI
·5 minutes read
FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN
Soldiers from the Cibinong Kostrad Transportation and Supplies Battalion 1 prepare food to be distributed to residents at the Kostrad TNI AD Public Kitchen in Cileungsi Village, Sukajaya Village, Cugenang District, Cianjur Regency, Tuesday (29/11/2022).
After driving half an hour by motorcycle on Tuesday (29/11/2022), Sambas, 25, arrived at the Pendopo Tumaritis communal kitchen in Cianjur, managed by the 1st Transportation and Supply Battalion (Yonbekang) of the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad).
“Sir, can I have some supplies?” the resident of Cisalak, Cugenang district, asked Chief Sgt. Jeri Jemi Polii, commandant of Kostrad’s communal kitchen team.
Sambas presented an aid request bearing the signatures of local officials and a stamp. The document asked for tents, food, basic necessities, blankets and medicines. “The food at the command post is depleted. In fact, there are 260 evacuees. That’s why I came here,” he said.
Without wasting any time, Jeri got two boxes filled with instant noodles, sugar, cooking oil and 5 kilograms of rice. He also offered wrapped meals of rice and side dishes. However, Sambas did not want to trouble Jeri and his team. “Thank God for the supplies, it’s a great help,” he responded.
The 5.6-magnitude earthquake that struck at noon on Monday (21/11/2022) destroyed 88,022 houses and claimed 327 lives in Cianjur regency, while 13 people are still missing. In addition, 108,720 residents were evacuated.
As Sambas left, two other people asked for wrapped meals. The soldiers in charge gave them a meal of rice, fried eggs, noodles and drinking water.
“At half past two in the morning, the stoves seem to be calling,” Jeri said with a smile.
We should make sure the residents have enough food before we eat and sleep.
Along with 12 soldiers, Jeri wakes early every day and gets ready to cook. The well-built men with crew cuts arrange pots and a 40-by-60-centimeter griddle, turn on the stoves and start slicing red shallots. Every day, they prepare 750 portions of food.
From morning to early evening, representatives of the earthquake survivors come to collect meals. The soldiers also deliver packages of wrapped meals to evacuation camps. Not infrequently, they get only two to three hours’ sleep per day. “We should make sure the residents have enough food before we eat and sleep,” said Jeri.
Jeri has prepared food for earthquake victims in several regions, including in Yogyakarta following the 2006 earthquake. For this TNI soldier, sleeping on a hard camp bed in a tent has been normal since 1998. “If I slept on a soft mattress with an air conditioner, I won’t be able to get up at three in the morning,” said the father of three.
KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO
Activities of the Kostrad TNI AD public kitchen which is the place for distributing donations to Kompas Daily readers through the Kompas Humanitarian Fund (DKK) in Ciherang, Pacet, Cianjur Regency, West Java, Thursday (24/11/2022). The assistance was handed over by the Executive Manager of the DKK Foundation, Anung Wendyartaka, and was received by the Deputy Commander of Bekang I Kostrad, Major Dwi Sukohadi.
Readers’ donations
For him, fulfilling the survivors’ food needs is the same as supporting his family. This is why seeing the survivors eat the food he has prepared makes him happy. If managing aid in the aftermath of a disaster could be likened to war, the soldiers at the TNI communal kitchen are fighting against hunger among survivors.
“In war, logistical supplies alone do not win a battle. But a battle cannot be won without logistical supplies,” Jeri pointed out.
A dozen soldiers from Yonbekang 1 Kostrad are also working hard to make sure that the earthquake survivors of Cileungsi village in Cugenang district won’t go hungry. Every day, they cook nearly 1,000 portions of food. They prepare various kinds of dishes including fish, chicken, tempeh and vegetables.
They take turns delivering the food by motorcycle to the survivors. Their job is not always welcomed by smiles from the recipients. Once in a while, they are refused by survivors who are still able to cook their own food.
First Sgt. Aswadi, 38, has experienced this over the nine days he has been on duty in Cianjur. “It’s the joy and sorrow of the job,” said the soldier, who once helped survivors of the 2018 quake in Palu.
Another difficulty is the occasional impacts to their health they experience. They can come down with cold, cough and flu, even though they are given supplements. Cianjur, with its colder weather, requires them to adapt.
In any case, they must attend to their tasks on time. “We can’t delay our work until later in the day or the next day,” said Aswadi, whose back was red from kerokan, the traditional remedy of applying oil to the back and scraping it with a coin to treat a cold).
They also mingle with the local people at disaster sites, such as by inviting them to cook together. This strategy is aimed at boosting the survivors’ spirits and giving them something to do.
“The people affected by the quake are our fellow countrymen. Our sincere attitude is the main point. It’s also a religious duty. We just enjoy it. It might be boring, but [we] enjoy it. It’s also humanitarian work,” Aswadi said.
In the next phase, the DKK will continue to distribute aid from readers while adjusting to the residents’ needs. We hope the aid will help the survivors’ and relieve them of their burden.
The efforts of Jeri, Aswadi and disaster relief volunteers at the communal kitchens in Cianjur are supported by several parties, including the Kompas Humanitarian Fund Foundation (DKK). DKK Foundation chairman Antonius Tomy Trinugroho said the foundation managed donations from Kompas readers to procure supplies for the communal kitchens in cooperation with Kostrad. The initial phase of the aid for survivors comprised distributing rice, eggs and cooking oil.
“In the next phase, the DKK will continue to distribute aid from readers while adjusting to the residents’ needs. We hope the aid will help the survivors’ and relieve them of their burden,” said Tomy.
In the spirit of sharing and giving, these communal kitchens help the survivors as well as other people involved in disaster relief. All parties involved demonstrate that the good deeds done to help their fellow human is never in vain.
/https%3A%2F%2Fasset.kgnewsroom.com%2Fphoto%2Fpre%2F2022%2F11%2F24%2F69de9e97-f77e-45da-91b5-af80328a7c5a_jpg.jpg){kind=logo}
