Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) granted a car to Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC) as its concern about humanity. It aimed to support MDMC to manage disasters. The grant was handed over by Rector of UMY Dr. Ir. Gunawan Budiyanto, M.P. and his vice rectors on Monday (21/8) at Rectorate Meeting Room of UMY.
Rector of UMY stated that UMY cannot be separated from the establishment of the MDMC since this organization has existed since Tsunami in Aceh. “The grant of Mitsubishi Strada is a contribution of UMY to helping MDMC manage disasters. Indeed, the grant handover had symbolically been carried out in Tanwir Muhammaidyah I at Islamic Center Ambon in 2014. However, the car needed to be modified by adding communication tools, winch, and others,” told Gunawan.
After the Tanwir Muhammadiyah I was held, UMY officially announced Center for Environmental and Disaster Studies (PSLB) because the center is to anticipate disasters and to provide training for all UMY academicians and community. “UMY is located in a disaster-prone area such as disasters due to Mt. Merapi. Many people live in disaster-prone areas. For instance, in 1940 the victims were accounted almost 300 people, while in 2006 5,600 people died due to a disaster in Bantul. Thus, the establishment of the PSLB aimed at enhancing people’s understanding of disaster management. Besides, I expect that this grant would raise MDMC’s performance to help people in an inaccessible disaster-prone area,” inserted Bambang.
Meanwhile, Chairman of MDMC H. Budi Setiawan, S.T. expressed that MDCM thank UMY for prompting its performance. “MDMC possesses a program of research on disasters in terms of deaths, disaster-prone areas, building condition, diseases due to disasters, and natural disaster development. After gaining the research findings, we showed the data to UMY and required aids. Before managing disasters, our team conducted research the disaster area so that the disaster management can be done properly. Therefore, assessments as references before going to the disaster areas are necessary. Indeed, our team has a national certificate and is decent to manage disasters.
Budi also informed that his parties will always communicate with UMY to discuss the team’s performance development. “We wish that the grant given by UMY will be beneficial for MDMC to enhance the performance in disaster management. MDMC will always attempt to organize disaster management training for community and to cooperate with humanitarian organizations in both Indonesia and overseas,” he mentioned.
