Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) organized a disaster relief action for victims of flash floods and landslides by raising funds involving university leaders, faculties, lecturers, education staff, and students.
The UMSU Disaster Relief Action for flood and landslide victims was carried out simultaneously across the campus on Monday (1/12). Funds collected from the UMSU academic community will be distributed to victims in accessible disaster-affected areas as well as through Muhammadiyah administrators at the regional and local levels.
UMSU Rector, Prof. Dr. Agussani, MAP, stated that the university mobilized all available campus resources to help ease the burden of victims, both within the academic community and the surrounding society, as well as those affected in other regions.
“UMSU expresses its deepest condolences for the flash flood disasters that occurred in several areas of North Sumatra, Aceh, and West Sumatra. Therefore, UMSU strives to help by mobilizing all potentials, including students, to be involved in disaster relief actions,” he said, accompanied by Vice Rector I Prof. Dr. Muhammad Arifin, SH, M.Hum, Vice Rector II Prof. Dr. Akrim, M.Pd, and Vice Rector III Dr. Rudianto, M.Si.
UMSU did not act alone, but collaborated with PWM North Sumatra by establishing a flood victim relief post in Medan. Academic community members who became flood victims were temporarily accommodated on campus as evacuation shelters.
“There are 226 lecturers and education staff whose homes were flooded, and some were forced to evacuate. For victims, including those in affected regions, UMSU—working with PWM North Sumatra and Muhammadiyah regional leaders—provided cash assistance and basic necessities,” the Rector explained.
Meanwhile, the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FKIK) UMSU mobilized students who were not affected by the disaster to participate in free health check-up services.
The Rector also explained that UMSU implemented various measures and policies related to academic activities. Considering that post-disaster conditions have not fully returned to normal, including fuel supply issues, learning activities were adjusted.
“For the time being, classroom learning is adapted to conditions, with online classes and work-from-home options provided for lecturers and staff affected by the disaster,” he said.
UMSU is also reviewing the provision of scholarships for students most severely affected by the disaster in North Sumatra, Aceh, and West Sumatra. This includes students who lost parents who were the primary breadwinners, threatening the continuity of their education.
“In essence, UMSU is making maximum efforts to help ease the burden of both the academic community and the wider public affected by the disaster,” he added.
Meanwhile, Vice Rector II Prof. Dr. Akrim, M.Pd, and Vice Rector III Dr. Rudianto, M.Si, stated that they directly visited disaster locations to deliver food and basic necessities to affected residents. In the initial phase, the UMSU disaster relief team went to Langkat Regency, specifically Tanjungpura District, to distribute boxed meals to residents taking shelter in mosques after floods inundated residential areas.
During the distribution, evacuees expressed their hope for access to clean water for drinking and daily needs. Flooded residential conditions made it difficult for residents to bathe and meet their needs for clean water for drinking and cooking.
Subsequently, the UMSU Disaster Relief Team moved to Stabat to deliver aid in the form of rice, instant noodles, and eggs to the relief post established by the Muhammadiyah Regional Leadership (PD Muhammadiyah) of Langkat.
“From Langkat, the UMSU disaster relief action will continue to other affected areas, either by direct distribution or through local relief posts,” said Prof. Dr. Akrim and Dr. Rudianto, expressing hope that this initiative would help ease the suffering of disaster victims.
The Head of PD Muhammadiyah Langkat, Abdi Sukanto, MA, expressed gratitude for the basic necessities provided by UMSU. He stated that the assistance from the UMSU Disaster Relief Action would be distributed to areas most severely affected by the floods.
