Pertamina volunteers deliver aid to remote Indonesian earthquake victims

A joint volunteer team from Pertamina Patra Niaga, Pertamina Foundation, and local residents has successfully delivered crucial aid to Dusun Watu Hedok, a remote village in East Manggarai, NTT, Indonesia. The village, located about 15 kilometers from Reok District, had remained largely cut off since the earthquake, with this team being the first to reach the area.

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After crossing the river, we had to climb again on foot until our wet sandals dried on their own on the road. It turned out that at the top there was a flat area filled with about 18 houses. Their houses are arranged in a 'U' shape, and in the middle, a shared emergency tent was made for children and the elderly to sleep in.

Reaching Dusun Watu Hedok involved a difficult one-hour journey over rocky terrain. Volunteers had to cross a 100-meter-wide river, with water reaching waist-high, while carrying vital supplies such as food, medicine, tarpaulins, mattresses, and baby equipment. The village itself is situated on a hilltop, and after crossing the river, the team had to trek uphill, with their wet sandals drying along the way.

Upon arrival, the volunteers found approximately 45 families living in precarious conditions. Many homes were damaged, with children and the elderly sleeping in a communal tent in the center of the village, shaped like a 'U'. The extreme weather conditions, with intense heat during the day and cold nights, compounded their hardship. The villagers feared aftershocks and were reluctant to sleep in their damaged houses. Erly Yeniska Hermitasari, a volunteer, noted that the aid from Pertamina was the first to reach the remote hilltop location.

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The weather there is extreme. It's very hot during the day and very cold at night, like on a mountaintop. The residents don't dare to sleep inside their houses because they are afraid of aftershocks. The aid that arrived at the hilly area was truly the first from Pertamina.

The arrival of the Pertamina Peduli volunteers was met with immense relief and gratitude. Rudoltus Wol, a resident, expressed his profound thanks, calling the assistance a "response to the surrender of the residents who had been waiting for help for days." He specifically thanked Pertamina for their direct presence during their time of crisis. Kitty Andhora, VP of Corporate Communication at Pertamina Patra Niaga, affirmed the company's commitment to assisting communities in crisis, ensuring that aid reaches even the most isolated areas.

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Pertamina truly cares about us who are currently experiencing this disaster. Thank God for your arrival here, we are very grateful and thank God. Only the team from Pertamina Posko Reo could appear and reach our place.