UNDIP, Agam (December 5, 2025) – Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), through the Diponegoro Disaster Assistance Response Team (D-DART), has been actively deployed to flood-disaster areas in Sumatra Island. The volunteer team is directly assisting affected communities in Agam Regency, West Sumatra, focusing on health services, psychosocial support, and the distribution of logistical aid.
The D-DART medical team is providing healthcare services in the working area of Matur Community Health Center (Puskesmas Matur) after intensive coordination with the Agam Regency Health Office. Meanwhile, the psychosocial team is assisting in Tanjung Raya District, specifically in Jorong Bancah, focusing on children through self-protection education, color therapy, and dance activities.
These activities are crucial for children, who are the most vulnerable group in emergencies. The assistance helps restore their sense of safety, reduce anxiety, and rebuild their confidence in the post-disaster period.
In addition to health and psychosocial services, D-DART is also distributing logistical aid to residents in Nagari Sungai Batang, particularly in Jorong Kukuban, a hilly area surrounded by forest. The aid packages contain rice, hygiene supplies, snacks, baby diapers, women’s necessities, and underwear.
Access to this area is quite challenging and poorly lit at night. However, these conditions have not diminished the team’s commitment to ensuring that all assistance reaches residents safely and accurately.
During the send-off for the D-DART team, the Rector of Universitas Diponegoro, Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si., expressed his deep condolences for the flooding in West Sumatra and conveyed his full support for the D-DART team’s dedication to its humanitarian mission. “UNDIP is always present for the community, including disaster victims in West Sumatra. We have deployed the UNDIP D-DART team, which is currently providing direct assistance to the victims in the field. We plan to continue sending teams until the end of December, or as long as assistance is still needed,” he stated.
At present, Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), under the coordination of Vice Rector IV, Wijayanto, S.IP., M.Si., Ph.D., continues to prepare UNDIP’s assistance, which includes the implementation of portable water treatment technology for clean water supply, optimization of nutritional support for toddlers, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and the elderly, as well as the strengthening of integrated health posts. Wijayanto, Ph.D., said, “We continue to work hard to prepare various necessities for the flood victims. All units are moving together to ensure that UNDIP’s assistance can be distributed quickly, accurately, and effectively.”
In addition to efforts in Sumatra, UNDIP is also assisting its students currently in Semarang who originate from disaster-affected areas.
The Head of the UNDIP D-DART Team, Ns. Nur Hafizhah Widyaningtyas, S.Kep., M.Kep., explained that the second phase of the disaster response focuses on medical services, psychological assistance, and hygiene-related logistics.
“In this second phase, the focus of assistance lies in medical services, psychological support, and hygiene-related logistics such as personal hygiene items and hygiene kits. Aid must be well-targeted and based on strong assessments and multi-sector coordination. Therefore, we continue to coordinate with West Sumatra volunteers, local government, the Health Office, and village heads,” she explained.
The rapid response of D-DART UNDIP underscores the strategic role of universities in comprehensive post-disaster recovery—from healthcare and psychosocial resilience to the fulfillment of basic community needs. UNDIP remains committed to continuously supporting the government and communities in impactful, measurable, and sustainable humanitarian efforts. (Public Communication/UNDIP/D-DART Team & DHW; ed. Nurul)
