Student Story: When Empathy Knows No Distance—UIN Jakarta Volunteers on the Frontlines of Disaster Relief

Ciputat, UIN Online News – The end of November 2025 marked a difficult period for many communities across Sumatra. Persistent heavy rainfall stretched from Aceh to West Sumatra, causing rivers to overflow, triggering flash floods and landslides that devastated homes, cut off roads, and brought daily life to a standstill. Thick mud inundated residential areas, leaving behind fear, loss, and hope for assistance.

Amid these challenging circumstances, a humanitarian movement emerged from UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. The UIN Jakarta Volunteer Forum, which had previously been inactive, was reactivated in response to the declaration of a national disaster. What began as empathy from afar soon transformed into direct action, as students stepped away from their classrooms to serve affected communities with their skills, knowledge, and compassion.

“The declaration of a national disaster made us realize that this was no longer something we could simply sympathize with from a distance. We had to be there in person,” said Nur Muhammad Fadhil, a seventh-semester student at the Faculty of Sharia and Law and Chairperson of the Arkadia Nature Lovers Association (KPA Arkadia).

A team of ten student volunteers was deployed, with the number determined by available funding and logistical resources. The volunteers represented various student organizations and semi-autonomous bodies, including ARKADIA, RANITA, Pramuka (Scouts), KSR PMI, UIN Syahid Medical Rescue (USMR), FIKES Disaster Responder Team (FDT), and Disaster & Emergency Nursing Team (DENTA). Their diverse backgrounds became a significant strength, combining expertise in wilderness navigation, search and rescue operations, emergency response, and basic medical services.

The team was divided into two primary missions. One group joined the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) in conducting search and rescue (SAR) operations to locate and evacuate victims. Meanwhile, the medical team established healthcare services that included health screenings, basic treatment, and the distribution of medicines and vitamins to both affected residents and fellow relief workers.

The humanitarian mission lasted ten days, from 12 to 21 December 2025, with Nagari Palembayan, Agam Regency, West Sumatra, serving as the primary operational base due to the area's severe flood damage. A local mosque functioned as the joint command post for volunteers and Basarnas personnel. During the final two days, the volunteers moved to Nanggalo District, Padang City, where they helped residents clean mud from flood-damaged homes.

Before distributing aid, the volunteers conducted detailed assessments in each jorong (a local administrative unit comparable to a neighborhood). Because the number of affected households varied from one area to another, the assessment ensured that assistance reached those most in need. Volunteers identified urgent necessities, vulnerable groups, and developed fair distribution plans.

The university community also demonstrated strong support. Through social media campaigns organized by the Office of Student Affairs and the Social Trust Fund (STF) UIN Jakarta, fundraising efforts were carried out in collaboration with student organizations. Direct public donations reached IDR 3,443,154, while contributions managed through STF totaled IDR 102,084,611. Following the Rector's directive, all donations were centrally managed to ensure transparent and effective distribution.

In total, 307 kilograms of relief supplies—including staple foods, instant noodles, canned rendang, clothing, and other essential necessities—were delivered through designated drop points due to the limited accessibility of several affected areas.

The volunteers faced numerous challenges throughout the mission. Rugged terrain, extreme weather, and long travel distances often required them to hike for hours to reach isolated communities. Several volunteers became ill from exhaustion. Yet, they agreed that these hardships were insignificant compared to the losses experienced by local residents.

“What left the deepest impression on us was the warmth of the community. Despite having so little, people still offered us food and drinks. They had lost so much, yet they were still willing to share. That was what gave us the strength to keep going,” Fadhil recalled.

For the student volunteers, the experience became a powerful lesson in the meaning of presence, solidarity, and humanitarian service. They hope that the affected communities will recover quickly and that the UIN Jakarta Volunteer Forum will continue to remain active—not only during major disasters, but as a dedicated humanitarian force ready to respond whenever and wherever it is needed.