The suffering of flood victims that devastated the Sumatra region on\n24-27 November 2027 has yet to fade. More than three months after the\ndisaster, survivors in the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West\nSumatra remain living in emergency shelters.<\/p>\n
They endure nights sleeping under plastic tarpaulin tents whilst\nsuffering from cold and mosquito attacks, followed by scorching heat\nduring the day. Their homes have been destroyed, economic activities\nhave halted, and they face a shortage of clean water and food to break\ntheir fasts during Ramadan.<\/p>\n
In response, Cak Kaji caf\u00e9 and restaurant in East Java has provided\nfree food and meals to student migrants from the flood-affected regions\nof Sumatra. The exclusive-class restaurant owner, situated in a rice\nfield at Jalan Pengandaran, Desa Antirogo, Kecamatan Sumbersari,\nKabupaten Jember, has extended an invitation to all students and\nmigrants from Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra to satisfy their\nhunger and thirst after fasting throughout the day.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe empathise with the situation of flood victims in Sumatra.\nParticularly in Aceh, which is still suffering during this Ramadan\nmonth. Their homes have been swept away by flooding, their livelihoods\ndestroyed, and they face difficulties bearing the costs of education and\nfamily living expenses. This prompted my husband and I to feel called to\nprovide meals for students studying in Jember,\u201d said Baiq Lily\nHandayani, owner of Cak Kaji Caf\u00e9 and Restaurant, in an interview.<\/p>\n
Baiq Lily Handayani, wife of Rozaq Asyhari, noted that amongst the\nflood-affected students studying in Jember, those from Aceh make up the\nmajority breaking their fast at Cak Kaji Restaurant. This is likely\nbecause Aceh was the most extensively and severely impacted by the major\nflooding.<\/p>\n
\u201cEspecially since all those from Aceh are Muslims. We opened the\nrestaurant towards iftar time, operating only in the evening. The\nstudents from Aceh, the Verandah of Mecca, fast during the day,\u201d\nexplained Handayani, a graduate of Jember State University (UNEJ).<\/p>\n
Handayani added that following the Sumatra floods, she and her\nhusband felt deeply concerned upon learning of the conditions of\naffected residents whose homes were destroyed, businesses lost, and\nagricultural lands severely damaged. Rather than travelling to the\ndisaster site to provide direct assistance, they decided to ease the\nburden on affected families by helping their children studying and\nliving as migrants in Jember.<\/p>\n
\u201cAround 4 December, approximately ten days after flooding devastated\nSumatra, we spread the message through social media and WhatsApp status\nto invite students from the flood-affected regions of Sumatra to eat\nfree meals three times a day at Cak Kaji Restaurant. Initially, they\nwere uncertain whether it was genuine or a joke. Eventually, with God\u2019s\nwill, they responded, though some were hesitant or embarrassed to come,\u201d\nadded Handayani, who is also a senior lecturer in sociology at Jember\nState University.<\/p>\n
Khairil Akli, a student at Jember State University from Krueng\nSeumideuen, Pidie District, Aceh, acknowledged that since the flood\u2019s\naftermath, he has frequently enjoyed free meals at Cak Kaji Restaurant.\nInitially, the menu was buffet-style, allowing diners to select from\nvarious items available at a designated complimentary table. Now, the\narrangement has become more refined, with customers ordering from the\nrestaurant staff according to their preferences. After ordering rice and\nbeverages, they simply wait at their dining table for the food to be\nprepared and served.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis kindness has been tremendously helpful for our lives as\nboarding students. It has eased the burden on our parents and supported\nour continued studies in Jember. Whether we study at Jember State\nUniversity, Jember State Polytechnic, UIN Jember, or various other\nprivate universities. Thank you to Cak Kaji Caf\u00e9 and Restaurant. May\nthis become eternal charity for its owners and staff. We also thank the\npeople of Jember and residents of East Java,\u201d said Khairil Akli.<\/p>\n
M Adli Abdullah, a cultural scholar from Syiah Kuala University (USK)\nin Aceh, expressed deep gratitude for the generosity of the Cak Kaji\nCaf\u00e9 and Restaurant owners in Jember. The free iftar meals for a full\nmonth have been particularly helpful for students from Aceh, North\nSumatra, and West Sumatra, easing the economic burden on their families\nstill surviving in emergency shelters.<\/p>\n
Even further back, three months since the flood and landslide\ndisaster, the restaurant owned by the Rozaq Asyhari family and his wife\nBaiq Lily Handayani has willingly dedicated their resources and\nbusiness. This represents an extraordinary humanitarian sacrifice for\nyoung people and Acehnese migrants pursuing their educational futures in\nJember.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe Acehnese people will always remember and pray for their\nassistance. Their service and concern are truly remarkable. This is\nsomething rarely found, and not everyone is willing to do it. Few people\nreceive such divine inspiration to open their hearts so generously. Your\ncontributions are truly valuable for our children,\u201d said M Adli\nAbdullah, a senior lecturer who deeply understands the character of\nAcehnese people.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cak-kaji-restaurant-in-jember-provides-free-iftar-meals-for-displaced-student-migrants-from-sumatra-flood-1772294605", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }