Lazismu Raises Rp6 Billion for Earthquake Response in East Nusa Tenggara

Lazismu, the charitable arm associated with Muhammadiyah, had collected Rp6.099 billion by September 3 for the earthquake response in East Nusa Tenggara, with Rp3.456 billion already distributed for humanitarian operations.

Muhammadiyah began mobilising resources after the August 15 earthquake through its disaster-resilience network, also known as the Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Centre. A directive issued on August 20 instructed mosques to collect Friday prayer donations for those affected by the disaster. The fundraising took place on August 21.

The response includes a 50-person Emergency Medical Team operating to establish a field hospital at Dampek Community Health Centre in East Manggarai, which the earthquake destroyed. The team follows World Health Organization standards and is working with Indonesia’s Ministry of Health. It began a 30-day assignment on August 17.

A mobile emergency medical team from Muhammadiyah-Aisyiyah hospitals has also travelled to evacuation sites that fixed services cannot reach. By September 3, the teams had treated 85 infants, 229 toddlers, 266 children, 150 adolescents, 2,173 adults, 22 pregnant women and 799 older people.

The most common reported diagnoses included respiratory infections in 437 survivors, muscle pain and aches in 372, hypertension in 233, abdominal discomfort or pain in 186, and headaches or neck pain in 153. Lazismu chief executive Barry Adhitya said donations would continue supporting the response, rehabilitation, reconstruction and efforts to strengthen community resilience.