Malang (malangkota.go.id) – August 19 is commemorated as World Humanitarian Day (WHD). This commemoration was established in 2009 by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to commemorate the suicide bombing attack on the Canal Hotel, Baghdad, Iraq, on August 19, 2003 which killed around 20 people, including the UN's high envoy to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
Volunteers distribute aid to residents affected by the Covid-19 pandemic
The goal is to raise public awareness to become humanitarian actors who are useful for people in need of help. Every year, the commemoration of World Humanitarian Day carries a different theme. Reported from the official UN website, the theme raised in 2021 is 'The Human Race'. Through this theme, the UN invites the public to care and take part in solidarity to further highlight the various impacts of the climate crisis.
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), through the Main Secretary (Sestama) of BNPB Lilik Kurniawan, ST., M.Si, expressed that his party appreciates the efforts of the government, academics, local communities, youth organizations, media, humanitarian workers and also volunteers for activities related to climate change campaigns and actions.
In essence, humanity is an attitude that every human being should have to be able to protect and treat fellow human beings humanely. Through humanitarian activities, it is hoped that it can alleviate the suffering of fellow human beings without distinguishing between religion or belief, ethnicity, gender, social status, or other criteria. This year, World Humanitarian Day is still commemorated during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I hope this moment can increase the spirit of mutual cooperation in humanitarian affairs amid the Covid-19 pandemic and awareness of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation," said Lilik Kurniawan, Thursday (19/8/2021).
It seems that this hope has been realized with the program prepared by the Mayor of Malang Drs. H. Sutiaji through one of the strategies for handling Covid-19 in Malang City, namely Malang Sharing (Malber). Amid the current increase in Covid-19, various elements in Malang City are flocking to carry out the Malber movement.
This was done for residents affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Some set up public kitchens and distributed ready-to-eat food for self-isolation patients (isoman), provided basic food assistance, helped provide oxygen and other medical devices, and provided trauma healing for patients and their families. These various efforts were also carried out in an effort to strengthen the Micro PPKM at the RT/RW level according to the Circular of the Mayor of Malang Number 49 of 2021.
According to Mayor Sutiaji, recently various solidarity actions have emerged to reduce the burden of residents who are directly affected. The movements carried out by the government, ASN through Baznas, various organizations and communities, and individuals show that empathy between each other is very much needed to build a society that is resilient to a disaster.
"This solidarity action is a form of Malber or Malang Berbagi. Hopefully, with the cooperation of various parties, the affected residents can be helped. We hope that we can overcome this pandemic together soon," said Sutiaji some time ago.
