Bali holds charity events to help disaster victims
Bali holds charity events to help disaster victims
A box proclaiming “20,000 Masks for Merapi” in Indonesian welcomed Putu Adi Susanta as he arrived in the Sanglah Hospital parking lot.
“This is a spontaneous campaign that surprised and moved us to contribute to easing the suffering of disaster victims. Hospitals should also donate medical equipment,” said Susanta, a radiologist at the hospital.
As the volcano continues to spew ash, a number of shelters in affected areas are in dire need of assistance.
Sanglah Hospital decided to organize the 20,000-mask campaign and also raise funds for the procurement of medical equipment needed for Merapi victims.
Volunteers distributed donation boxes to doctors, nurses and employees, and money quickly poured in from hundreds of donors at the hospital — including patients and their families. By Sunday afternoon volunteers had collected Rp 22 million (US$2,500).
Hospital director I Nyoman Sutarga said the funds would be spent on masks, eye drops, ventilators and other needed equipment.
“We are also ready to dispatch our own medical team, should they need us to go to Yogyakarta,” he added.
The campaign was only one of numerous charity events held across Bali. Dozens of communities held charity events to express solidarity for the Merapi victims in Central Java, the victims in the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra and of the flashflood in Wasior, Papua.
On Saturday evening, hundreds of people from various communities in Bali held an auction to offer prized possessions at Taman 65 in Kesiman, Denpasar. The small park was packed with bargain hunters.
A community of reptile lovers, Komunitas Barong, auctioned a python and several guinea pigs.
Emily, an expatriate, and her two children won the bid for two brown guinea pigs. The two boys were so happy they immediately inserted Rp 95,000 in the donation box.
A young tattoo artist, Marmar, tendered his skills by offering a 10-square-centimeter tattoo, the design of which would be chosen by the top bidder.
America Christine Foster, a volunteer following the tsunami in Aceh in 2004, won the prize for Rp 525,000. “I couldn’t go to Merapi, but I’m happy to contribute to this charity event,” she said.
Dozens of goods were put on the block during the lively event, including a photograph from top photographer Harum, a t-shirt from the Dialog Dini Hari band and shoes that once belonged to Nostress band.
The three-hour auction managed to collect Rp 10,450,000, US$100 and A$100.
“We will send the proceeds to the volunteers from the Mentawai university student union and Walhi Yogyakarta,” event coordinator Ngurah Termana said.
“This is a spontaneous activity and is open to any community. We don’t need to wait for the government ... People’s solidarity works faster,” he said.
Bali punk band Superman is Dead has sent aid to Yogyakarta, collected from their posts in Sanur and in Kuta at the Twice Bar on Poppies lane. The scooter community Metal for Humanity and other groups have also committed to similar efforts.
Communities in Bali will continue holding additional charity events throughout next week, including at the Udayana University student executive body’s drop center.
Source: The Jakarta Post