Muhammadiyah volunteers leave jobs to serve disaster survivors for three weeks

Some Muhammadiyah volunteers left their jobs, families and medical practices for nearly three weeks to serve disaster survivors in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.

Hilman Latief, general treasurer of Muhammadiyah’s central leadership, praised the volunteers for maintaining services in the affected areas. Their work included running public kitchens, treating patients through a field hospital and sorting and distributing aid such as family kits, school kits and RendangMu.

Speaking in Dampek, East Manggarai, on September 6, Hilman thanked the volunteers who had supported the response. “On behalf of Muhammadiyah’s central leadership, I would like to thank all the volunteers who oversaw the process taking place in the field for three weeks,” he said.

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On behalf of Muhammadiyah’s central leadership, I would like to thank all the volunteers who oversaw the process taking place in the field for three weeks.

Hilman said rotating teams was essential to keep humanitarian services running. A new group had arrived to replace volunteers who had served for several weeks, allowing the operation to continue.

Some of those sent to East Nusa Tenggara were health workers and specialist doctors. “These volunteers left their jobs. Specialist doctors who had practices left their workplaces for three weeks,” Hilman said.

He linked the volunteers’ sacrifices to the religious values guiding Muhammadiyah’s humanitarian work, including the call to help one another in virtue and devotion. He also referred to the Quranic concept of al-aqabah, or a difficult path, as a message encouraging concrete action to help people in hardship and support vulnerable groups.

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These volunteers left their jobs. Specialist doctors who had practices left their workplaces for three weeks.