UNIKI Cares: The Role of the Disaster Response Post of the Universitas Islam Kebangsaan Indonesia (UNIKI) Bireuen in Addressing Flash Flood Disasters in Bireuen Regency and Surrounding Regencies, Aceh Province.

Aceh Province is one of the regions in Indonesia that has a relatively high level of vulnerability to natural disasters. Geographical factors, topographical conditions, and global climate change have made this region susceptible to various types of disasters, one of which is flash flooding.

Flash floods not only cause damage to infrastructure but also generate widespread social impacts, ranging from loss of life and displacement to the destruction of community livelihoods.

In the context of disaster management, the role of all elements of society is essential, including higher education institutions. Universities do not only function as centers for the development of knowledge.

Moreover, they also bear a social responsibility to make tangible contributions to addressing community problems. This is in line with the Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi, particularly the aspect of community service.

The Universitas Islam Kebangsaan Indonesia (UNIKI) Bireuen, as one of the private universities in Aceh, has demonstrated its commitment to humanitarian efforts through the establishment of UNIKI Cares and the Disaster Response Post. This initiative represents a tangible expression of the academic community’s concern for the suffering of communities affected by flash floods that have struck various regencies in Aceh Province.

This Disaster Response Post was officially inaugurated by the Patron of the Universitas Islam Kebangsaan Indonesia (UNIKI) Bireuen, Dr. H. Amiruddin, S.E., M.Si. He serves not only as a university patron but also as a member of the Aceh Provincial House of Representatives (DPRA) representing the United Development Party (PPP).

Furthermore, the UNIKI Cares Disaster Response Post was established as a coordination center for humanitarian assistance to flash flood victims. The post is chaired by Ir. T.Irfan Fajri, S.Kom., M.M.SI., who plays a strategic role in coordinating all activities related to the collection, distribution, and supervision of aid.

In addition, he also serves as the Chairperson of the Aceh Regional Leadership Council (DPW) of the United Development Party (PPP). With this background, Dr. H. Amiruddin plays a strategic role in bridging the academic, political, and socio-community spheres.

The presence of the UNIKI Disaster Response Post serves as a symbol of synergy among university leaders, students, and the wider community in responding to emergency disaster situations in a prompt, well-organized, and sustainable manner.

This concern is not limited to the campus environment but also extends to cadres of the United Development Party (PPP), students, and the broader community in Bireuen Regency and surrounding regencies in Aceh Province.

In the context of flash flood disasters, Dr. H. Amiruddin emphasized that humanitarian assistance does not always have to be large-scale or luxurious. Simple aid, when well-targeted and delivered with sincere intentions, can provide highly meaningful psychological and social impacts for disaster victims. This principle serves as the main foundation of the UNIKI Cares initiatives.

Through his guidance and support, the UNIKI Disaster Response Post moved swiftly to identify and collect appropriate forms of assistance as initial emergency relief, which were then promptly distributed to various parties, including lecturers, students, supporters, and the general public.

The flash floods that struck several areas of Bireuen Regency and neighboring regencies in Aceh Province have caused extremely serious impacts. Field data indicate that many residents lost family members due to the strong water currents. In addition to the loss of life, the disaster also resulted in thousands of people losing their homes and property.

The material losses suffered by the community included damage to residential houses, vehicles such as cars and motorcycles, as well as the loss of livestock, including cattle, buffaloes, goats, and other domestic animals. For rural communities, the loss of livestock signifies the loss of a primary source of livelihood, resulting in long-term impacts on household economic conditions.

Moreover, flash floods also cause psychological trauma, particularly among children, women, and the elderly. Limited evacuation facilities, shortages of basic necessities, and uncertainty about the future pose major challenges in the post-disaster recovery process.

UNIKI Bireuen students played a highly significant role in the activities of the UNIKI Cares Disaster Response Post. With a strong spirit of volunteerism and high social awareness, the students were directly involved in various humanitarian activities.

The students’ roles included collecting donations, packaging logistics, and distributing aid to evacuation sites. The assistance provided included items such as rice and cooking oil. cooking oil, dried bread, instant noodles (Indomie), as well as wearable clothing for displaced communities.

Moreover, The clothing distributed included garments for women, men, and children, tailored to the needs of evacuees in each village across Bireuen Regency and neighboring regencies in Aceh Province.

In addition, students also assisted in the process of recording disaster victims, provided moral support to evacuees, and helped clean up mud and debris in the aftermath of the disaster. This student involvement not only delivered direct benefits to the community but also served as a highly valuable form of social learning for students as future leaders.

The UNIKI Cares activities demonstrate that synergy between higher education institutions and the community can become a powerful force in responding to disasters. Universities are not only academic centers but also hubs of social action capable of mobilizing various resources for humanitarian purposes.

Through the UNIKI Disaster Response Post, effective coordination was established among university leaders, lecturers, students, and the community. This synergy accelerated the aid distribution process and ensured that the assistance provided reached the intended beneficiaries.

This model of engagement is expected to serve as an example for other higher education institutions in developing community service programs that are responsive to emergency situations and social needs.

On various occasions, Dr. H. Amiruddin, S.E., M.Si., expressed his hope to all parties—particularly members of the community with sufficient economic capacity—to contribute to alleviating the suffering of flash flood victims.

Moreover, according to him, social concern is a shared responsibility that cannot be placed solely on the government or volunteers alone.

Assistance in any form, whether material or non-material, is highly meaningful for communities experiencing difficult circumstances. The spirit of mutual cooperation and social solidarity constitutes an essential value that must be continuously upheld, especially in the midst of humanitarian crises.

Furthermore, the establishment of the UNIKI Cares Disaster Response Post represents a tangible manifestation of the community service commitment of the Universitas Islam Kebangsaan Indonesia (UNIKI) Bireuen. Under the leadership of Ir. Irfan Fajri, S.Kom., M.M.SI., as Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science (FKOM) UNIKI Bireuen, with the support of numerous students, as well as the guidance and concern of the UNIKI Patron, Dr. H. Amiruddin, S.E., M.Si., this initiative was able to make a significant contribution to assisting flash flood victims in Aceh Province.

Moreover, although the assistance provided was modest in nature, the humanitarian values, compassion, and solidarity embodied within it carried profound significance. It is hoped that initiatives such as this will continue and become an integral part of UNIKI’s academic culture in fostering a caring, resilient, and socially just society.

Author:
Yusri,S.Sos.,M.Si.,M.S.
Lecturer, Faculty of Economics and Business, UNIKI Bireuen