Update TGKI 29-30 November 2010
Visitation of the Leader of Gerakan Kemanusiaan Indonesia,
Refugee ‘meet and greet’ TGKI Jogja
30 November 2010 the visitation of the head of the Indonesian Humanitarian Movement (GKI), Rev. Kuntadi Sumadikarya, Followed by the visitation of the TGKI posts in Yogyakarta, Adisucipto post and Cangkringan post.
The Refugees in Adisucipto Post is well Taken Cared of
In the Adisucipto post, which is actually the post of GKI Gejayan, the refugees from Merapi is accommodated. They are not a group of anonymous, but people with recognizable names, village, family, and losses. I think they are refugees who are happy because they are cared for and nurtured well by the TGKI Jogja. They were housed in a proper shelter that was large enough. They maybe the only group of refugees who stayed in barracks equipped with air-conditioning and television. Even a generator is ready when power failure occurs.
At the peak of the crisis, while other refugees are in sorry and pitiful condition and concerned about their livestock, TGKI Jogja not only accommodate these refugees, but also their livestock. Adisucipto post is a lively post inhabited by humans and livestock. Fortunately the land was large enough to accommodate them all. After Merapi subsided there are still around 80 people, who live together in this camp.
The refugees are served cheerfully, so that the everyday encounter between refugees and the volunteer group feels like a big family meeting. The concept of empowerment "of refugees to refugee" applies. The refugees are included and then took over the general kitchen duties. TGKI Jogja only provided the equipment and materials. Not only did solidarity occur between volunteers and refugees, or among the refugees themselves, but also among refugees and surrounding communities.
On certain days, the refugee children and their parents were taken to Taman Gembira Loka to eliminate saturation. Gembira Loka Park eliminated the admission for these refugees at the request of TGKI Jogja. They rejoice because some of them have never enjoyed Gembira Loka their entire life. By doing so, the disaster turned into a blessing in which they would never had the opportunities to do so if there were no disaster. Throughout these activities, the volunteers of TGKI Jogja facilitated the refugees, but some refugees lead their own group. They happily serve and not be served.
Everyday it can be seen that the refugees spend their time with productive works and also by playing. The yard of Adisucipto post was turned into a simple volleyball court. Space and rooms can be converted into a workshop. The children were invited to play games and learn the creative arts.
When I visited, November 30, 2010, TGKI Yogyakarta is preparing for their departure to a craftsman village. The craftsmen in the village are already committed to teach their skills to the refugees. Thus the refugees who no longer have jobs can become craftsmen. This is an empowerment for refugees.
Inter-Faith
With this good of a barrack and sufficient facilities, it is easy for allegations that TGKI Jogja is converting people to Christianity to surface, although there are no intentions in the activities to help the refugees. But such accusation never appeared. Why? because inter-faith prayers are routinely held in the refugee posts. Pastors, religious teachers and clerics gathered and prayed together with the refugees. On Eid al-Adha, 17 November 2010, sacrificial goats were slaughtered, and then distributed to the refugees. The goats donated were excessive, so there are parts which were distributed to other camps. Islamic spiritual reflection and teaching activities are also conducted in this post. On the other hand, every Sunday, Sunday mass is held in this post for refugees who are Christian. So the things above reaffirmed TGKI’s policies, which is to help without any strings attached, including religious matter. Rev. Paul Lie explained with joy that since some time ago, TGKI Jogja didn’t need to buy rice again for the Adisucipto post, because the donors and local officials who knew the needs of this post did not hesitate to routinely provide adequate supply.
The refugees, who are ready to return to their homes, were escorted by volunteers and other refugees who have become volunteers. Their house is cleaned from the ashes of Merapi in order for it to be habitable. They are allowed to go home with supplies provided by TGKI Jogja. Not surprisingly, as a comparison, the refugees in Maguwoharjo shrunk from 120,000 to 9,000 people because they feel neglected; in Adisucipto post refugees who asked permission to go home were just two families. Those whose homes were completely destroyed and can not be used again, will get a shelter from TGKI Jogja. That too will be done by themselves according to the specifications, guidelines, materials and equipment from TGKI Jogja. There is more encouraging news for TGKI Jogja, the residents of Botokenceng village in Bantul, which was in the Yogyakarta earthquake in 2006 that were helped by TGKI Jogja to have houses (shelter), came to Jogja and expressed their willingness to aid TGKI in building shelters for refugees for the Merapi victims.
Dusun Kiaran Post - Desa Wukirsari – Cangkringan
I can not visit all the posts built TGKI Jogja because of time constraints. However I was fortunate to visit the Wukirsari Kiaran post. This post is a gathering place and shelter for residents during the evening. During the day they usually come home and perform everyday tasks, but when the night falls, afraid that eruption can occur when they fell asleep, they gathered in the Wukirsari Kiaran post.
All day I watched how volunteers from TGKI Jogja who are refugees themselves worked hard to bring 2.000 liter tanks of water into five hamlets and place them in strategic points that can be easily accessed by residents. These tanks aren’t purchased, but borrowed from Public Works Department that immediately responds to the requests of TGKI Jogja. In the Karanggeneng-Umbulharjo hamlet I witnessed people preparing sites and installing water tanks come in with a big truck through a narrow village road. They rejoiced because of the guarantee of water availability for their daily life. Where does the water come from? TGKI Jogja does not have the policy to buy water, but instead finding springs and bring them to the shelter tanks. TGKI Jogja, equipped with two water pumps, one siphons and another distributes the water. The trouble is that the springs are in some locations that has no electricity, so the pumps can not function, unless it is connected with hundreds of meters of cables into the nearest electrical source. A fleet of carriers taxied water every day to the water tank points in different villages in order to ensure the availability of water for residents. That which happily done by the residents themselves as a result of empowerment by TGKI Jogja.
In Srodokan hamlet, near the "former" Kali Kuning. I call it the "former" because I saw that Kali Kuning is already gone and even covered with hot lava. I also saw the hamlet on the right and left of Kali Kuning which has now become a river and desert of lava. The view is horrible, imagining how the incident took place. Within a short period of time houses, trees, plantations, villages were wiped out by lava. I saw the stones the size of a house from the eruption of Merapi, scattered al over the site. Residents told me that although stones are large but if you knock on it, it will be fractured, because the stones are already "cooked" in the heat of Merapi which reached 600 Celsius. Some volunteers from TGKI Jogja pointed toward the lava desert and said sadly, "In the past that was my house."
I had the opportunity to meet with the residents who have returned from refugee camps. They told me how their gardens were destroyed. This village was once known as a producer of a very expensive and famous Salak Pondoh. I see how the coconut tree and even durian trees are still standing, but both the roots and stems and the fruits are scorched. Pepper trees look intact but charred. The livelihoods of the people here have disappeared. If they are not helped they cannot recover by their own. A caring, concerned, effective and efficient government is their only hope. Expenses of this kind can not be handled by TGKI.
(Kuntadi)
Report by
Rev. Kuntadi Sumadikarya –
Head of GKI Humanitarian
KS: Wednesday, 08 December 2010
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