News

PBNU helps Mangga Besar's fire victims

Sen, 25 Juni 2007 | 13:42 WIB

Jakarta, NU Online
A wildfire raging out of control in West Mangga Besar Thursday (21/6), has won sympathy of the country’s largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). To assist the sufferings of the victims, PBNU through its CBDRMNU has given contribution.

”Many nahdliyyin (NU followers) living in this area need assistance. Local NU’s board has also told us for asking help that could expectedly be given by NU,” Program Manager CBDRMNU Avianto Muhtadi said Monday.
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After undertaking survey on Sunday, CBDRMNU team then went to the fire affected-areas to hand over clothes, milks, baby milks, tents, equipments to clean the ruins and operational funds.

Some NU and Ansor’s volunteers followed the program to help and do something aimed at reducing the people’s sufferings.

The contribution was such an emergency measure to fulfill basic needs in the refugee area. The problem was that the refugees were yet to build their houses. By the Thursday’s fire, 256 ones had been lost to flames and many others were damaged.

In the fire affected—areas, there was also an Islamic education foundation managed by H. Zarkasih, who is secretary of Nahdlatul Ulama law making body of Central Jakarta. “Local NU also requires materials to build their houses,” Avianto said.

The DKI Jakarta administration has always given supports to rebuild the buildings’ destruction in each fire. But the support was only a stimulus that is not enough to build their houses as before the accident.

He said, when undertaking survey, property owners had always guarded their lands to anticipate the replacement of their land border. He had also gotten confessions in which investors have bid their lands, but the people rejected and they would rebuild their houses.

Actually, PBNU intended to give free medical treatment for children, but it was facilitated by the Red Cross, including public consumptions until seven days after the accident. “We will see the situation, may be we will give services in coming seven days,” Avianto added.

The recent emerging problem is the political situation in Jakarta ahead of the gubernatorial election. He was afraid of giving donation that would be linked with certain candidate whereas NU’s aim was to give assistance sincerely. He also said that both candidates had established posts for coordination to win sympathy from people to vote. (mkf)