The Yayasan Mudra Swari Saraswati, which produces the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival and Ubud Food Festival, is a not-for-profit foundation committed to enriching the lives of Indonesians through community-building programs. It is therefore natural we do our best to provide crucial aid for evacuees of the recent earthquakes in North Lombok. We are doing this through fundraising events, including a film screening held on 17 August, Indonesian Independence Day, and by supporting local NGO IDEP Foundation with their Lombok Earthquake Emergency Response.
For almost two decades, IDEP Foundation has been developing and delivering practical training programs and public education activities to communities all over Indonesia. These programs focus on community-based disaster management, and sustainable development through permaculture.
IDEP is assisting evacuees in the Bayan sub-district of North Lombok regency. A major part of their assistance is providing ‘Family Buckets’, which can sustain a family for two weeks. The large buckets contain nutritious food, pantry essentials, mattresses, blankets, sanitary products, basic medicines and children’s activity kits, and can be used to protect valuables from rain and to gather clean water. IDEP is also supporting evacuation camp operations with emergency lighting, water filtration systems, mattresses and educational media and facilities for children and the elderly.
The following is a recent field report from IDEP:
Having already distributed aid to five locations in North Lombok since the July 29 earthquake, our team is now distributing fresh food to the North Lombok villages of Sambik Elen and Kayangan in North Lombok. For Sambik Elen Village, it is expected that food requirements for the next month have been met. Those living in evacuation camps are now in desperate need of trauma healing activities. The experience of being shaken by the earthquake and homes and possessions has caused severe trauma.
The assistance distributed in the Sesait area of Kayangan was received with great appreciation from the local community, because until then they had not received fresh food. Because of the difficult access in this area, all aid for the evacuees in remote areas will be distributed by motorbikes. IDEP’s Emergency Response period will last for the next two months, with aid distributed in the Senaru, Kayangan and Rempek areas of North Lombok.
When you purchase any type of UWRF ticket via TryBooking, you have the option of donating to IDEP’s Lombok Earthquake Disaster Response. You have the opportunity to hear directly from IDEP, as its Director Ade Andreawan will be part of the Main Program panel Dealing with Disaster on Day 4 of the Festival. The UWRF thanks everyone who has donated to IDEP’s Emergency Response so far, and wishes IDEP the very best with their crucial operations in North Lombok.
For more information about IDEP, and to see photos of their aid programs, visit their website, Facebook or Instagram.