Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) has opened relief posts for lecturers and educational staff within the campus community who have been affected by flooding, while also providing direct assistance to flood victims at several locations in Medan.
The Rector of UMSU, Prof. Dr. Agussani, MAP, stated that the university has established relief posts by designating campus buildings as temporary shelters for lecturers and educational staff whose homes have been inundated by floodwaters in Medan. Dozens of lecturers and staff have been recorded as having their homes flooded and were therefore forced to evacuate.
“For lecturers and educational staff whose homes have been flooded and who are forced to evacuate, the university has prepared campus buildings as temporary accommodation,” said the Rector, accompanied by Vice Rector I Prof. Dr. Muhammad Arifin, S.H., M.Hum, Vice Rector II Prof. Dr. Akrim, M.Pd, and Vice Rector III Dr. Rudianto, M.Si, when speaking to the media in Medan.
The Rector, who had previously accompanied the Chairman of the Central Executive Board of Muhammadiyah, Prof. Dr. Haedar Nasir, on a courtesy visit to Malaysia to meet the Raja of Perlis, immediately visited Muhammadiyah members who were flood victims at several evacuation sites upon his return to Medan. Subsequently, UMSU together with the Regional Leadership of Muhammadiyah of North Sumatra (PW Muhammadiyah Sumut) opened a relief post at the PWM Sumut Building on Jalan Sisingamangaraja for local residents affected by the floods.
On that occasion, the Rector also instructed university leaders to immediately carry out emergency response actions to assist lecturers and educational staff affected by the flooding in Medan. In addition to providing shelter, affected lecturers and staff also received financial assistance to help purchase daily necessities.
The university also implemented a work-from-home policy and online learning for three days starting from Thursday (27/11). This measure was taken due to concerns over extreme weather conditions that could threaten the safety of the UMSU academic community.
The Rector reminded all members of the UMSU academic community to coordinate with one another and share information regarding the situation caused by extreme weather. They were also urged to remain vigilant and ensure that all electrical equipment is disconnected from power sources.
“All members of the UMSU academic community are expected to continue monitoring the development of floods and landslides occurring in several areas of North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh, and to keep coordinating and exchanging information,” he said.
He further emphasized that the university continues to monitor the condition of students participating in overseas activities, including in Thailand, which is also experiencing flooding. “So far, everyone is in good health, and we certainly hope that the flood and landslide situation will soon recover and return to normal,” he concluded.
