As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, many communities around the world come together to share their blessings and give back to those in need. In Indonesia, the city of Cianjur has shown its generosity by disbursing food aid to those affected by recent earthquakes. This act of kindness allows families to break their fasts with peace of mind, knowing that they have the support of their community during this challenging time. Let’s take a closer look at how Cianjur is helping its citizens during this special month.
The government of Cianjur District has provided food assistance to the victims of the earthquake that struck the district on November 21, 2022, to help them perform the fasting ritual during Ramadhan 1444 Hijri. According to Cianjur District Head Herman Suherman, they have distributed food aid to the earthquake victims (to be used) during the fasting month through the related offices in each village and sub-district.
In the past week, authorized people have handed over rice, cooking oil, sugar, and flour assistance to residents staying in tents and emergency shelters due to their houses being damaged in the quake that occurred on November 21, 2022. The district head informed that the first and second batches of assistance for house renovation had been disbursed to the affected residents, and around 15 thousand residents have started rebuilding their homes.
The district head expressed hope that the construction of the victims’ houses would be completed soon so that they can be occupied by the middle of the fasting month. He said, “hopefully, the third and fourth batches of the (house renovation) assistance for 45 thousand other disaster victims can be disbursed soon, thus they can quickly rebuild their homes.”
The regional government will continue to support the residents, so that they get the assistance promptly. However, one of the victims who had not received the assistance was Yudiansah, a resident of Nagrak village. He said, “maybe it has been our fate that we have to stay in the tent during Ramadhan this year.”
A resident of Sarapad village, Udin Hotidin, will also have to observe Ramadhan rituals at an emergency shelter. He said, “We could carry out worship rituals amid last year’s fasting month comfortably at home and conduct the Tarawih (non-obligatory night prayer that only happens during Ramadhan) at the mosque in this village. However, this year we have to implement the fasting ritual in the emergency shelters and mosque.”
The earthquake victims said they hoped that the government will disburse the house renovation aid without delay so that they can quickly rebuild their homes. In addition, they expressed the hope that the damaged worship places would also be reconstructed soon.
Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas announced on Wednesday evening that Ramadhan 1444 Hijri will start on March 23, 2023.
The regional government had disbursed the first and second batches of house renovation assistance to the earthquake victims, with a hope to complete building and occupancy of the victim’s houses by the middle of the fasting month. A further hope expressed by the district head is that the third and fourth batches of renovation aid will follow through, benefiting 45 thousand additional victims of the natural disaster. Resistance to access the funding is limited due to the regional government’s willingness to support the residents’ swift acquisition of assistance.
However, a few residents of the affected areas, those like Yudiansah and Udin Hotidin, seemed untouched by the aid, and they will have to carry out their worship rituals at the emergency shelter. Such experiences were compared to last year’s fasting period, where worship was carried out in their homes and mosque. Nonetheless, the earthquake victims remain optimistic that the government will disburse the needed renovation assistance as soon as possible, not just for their homes but for damaged worship places as well.
In conclusion, the earthquake that struck the Cianjur District affected residents’ daily rituals, especially during the fasting month of Ramadhan, prompting the regional government to provide food assistance. However, the assistance extended to some earthquake survivors has not been reached to others, which highlighted the need for prompt assistance disbursal. The regional government, though, remains committed to supporting the victims’ fast access to the necessary aid.
