Unhas activates disaster response community service programme, sends seven students to NTT

Makassar (ANTARA) - Hasanuddin University (Unhas) has prepared a Thematic Disaster Response Community Service Programme (KKN) to support the handling and recovery of communities affected by the earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Head of the Community-Based Learning Subdirectorate at Unhas, Sulaeha, said in Makassar on Sunday that after news of the disaster spread, the university immediately coordinated with the Unhas Disaster Studies Centre.

She explained that the Disaster Response KKN is an implementation of the Three Pillars of Higher Education, particularly community service. The programme aims to strengthen the capacity and resilience of communities in disaster-prone areas.

“This programme aims to deliver a tangible contribution from higher education in supporting post-disaster handling and recovery efforts, strengthening capacity and community resilience,” she said.

In the initial phase, she said, Unhas has prepared seven students to be dispatched to the affected areas.

The selected students have diverse disaster response skills, including health, Search and Rescue (SAR), Korpala, and emergency rescue. The target of seven students was set given the very short preparation time.

“It turns out there was considerable interest. As of Sunday (16/8) morning, registrants had reached 47 people. There are students who do not have disaster response experience, but they come from the disaster area. We are also considering this,” said Sulaeha.

Before going to the location, she said, the students will receive briefing from the Unhas Disaster Studies Centre, including understanding the limits of student roles, safety procedures, coordination patterns, and conditions they may potentially face while in the affected area.

Head of the Unhas Disaster Studies Centre, Ilham Alimuddin, explained that besides preparing student resources for the field, it is equally important to build collaboration with the disaster management ecosystem available at the location.