Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Assistance for Natural Disasters in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT)

April 2021 - Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, East Nusa Tenggara Province was hit by a severe natural disaster due to the Seroja Tropical Cyclone on 4-5 April 2021. Information from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) shows that the Seroja Tropical Cycle triggers significant extreme weather in the form of very heavy rain, strong winds, landslides, and high sea waves that will hit NTT over the next few days.

This destroyed thousands of houses and forced most NTT residents to evacuate to safer places. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) data, updated as of 18/4/2021, indicates that there were 181 casualties due to flash floods and landslides, 225 injuries, and 48 missing people. (*source; Kompas.com). The condition in NTT was tense because rain intensity remained high accompanied by strong winds that lasted for several hours and it was pitch black due to the blackout.

Seeing the grief experienced by the community in NTT, Garudafood Sehati through PT Sinarniaga Sejahtera (PT SNS) in Kupang City and Partner SNS (PS), i.e. PS Boge, PS Sumber Berkat, and PS Faromas quickly distributed more than 1,565 cartons of Garudafood products. Coordination was carried out on 4 April 2021 by firstly mapping the affected Garudafood and PT SNS employees. After ensuring that the distribution of employee assistance has been completed, the Garudafood Sehati Team immediately mapped the surrounding areas of the company's operational areas suffering the worst impacts, and distributed assistance. The distribution of donations applied strict health protocols and was carried out as quickly as possible whilst still taking into account the situation and conditions on the ground. On this occasion, PT SNS also collaborated with a number of external partners, such as BenihBaik.com, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) of Kupang City, the Indonesian Buddhayana Family (KBI), Community Leaders in NTT as well as Kampung Dongeng Indonesia and Rumah Zakat in distributing donations for affected communities in other areas.

This is a continuation of the donation made in the previous month reaching a total of more than 4,000 cartons of Garudafood products between January - April 2021. This is the way that Garudafood Group cares for others regardless of ethnicity, religion, race, and group.

Let's jointly pray so this disaster will soon pass and that the COVID-19 pandemic will end soon and Indonesia can recover soon.

Thank you to the SNS Team who have taken the time and energy, the HC, Marketing Team, and all Garudafood Group Employees who have taken part in this initiative so it could be carried out properly and smoothly. To this day, Garudafood Sehati continues to distribute donations in other areas. May we and our families be spared from the disaster and the COVID-19 virus. Amen.