EMERGENCY AID
Unfortunately, Lombok is regularly affected by natural disasters.
Earthquake
In 2018, an earthquake destroyed more than 300,000 homes. From 2018 to 2020, Harapan Baru supported the villages in Gunung Sari and Batu Layar with both direct and indirect emergency aid. During the immediate response, the camps in Medas, Limbungan, Montong Sagar, Kekait, and Bengkaung were supported to help them through the first few weeks. Several injured individuals were also evacuated to local hospitals that remained open.
Afterward, Harapan Baru focused on long-term solutions. The first priority was the construction of toilet facilities—more than 80 installations were built. Additionally, emergency schools were opened at 11 locations, and over 50 schools were supported to reopen in the months following the earthquakes. For those who lost their jobs, Harapan Baru launched a waste management project. Participants were given the opportunity to collect waste in their area, fill plastic into PET bottles, and hand them over to the foundation. This allowed them to earn a livelihood, and it was from this initiative that our ecobrick program was born. Over 2,000 mosquito nets were also distributed to prevent the spread of malaria in Bukit Tinggi and Penimbung. Furthermore, more than 700 water filters were installed in the first few months, enabling residents to produce their own drinking water.
For long-term support, Harapan Baru provided tools through our tool facilities, allowing residents to repair or rebuild their homes. More than 2,000 families benefited from this assistance.
COVID
In 2020, the world was hit by COVID-19, and Lombok was not spared. Initially, healthcare workers were mostly affected as they lacked access to protective equipment, making them particularly vulnerable. In some locations, more than 20% of staff were affected by COVID-19 simultaneously. To combat this, Harapan Baru Lombok Indonesia distributed 250 disinfectant suits to health posts, hospitals, and large isolation centers. In the following weeks, infection rates began to decline.
Floods and Landslides
In 2021, the island was struck by floods due to extreme rainfall. Harapan Baru helped the villages repair pipelines that were destroyed by landslides. Equipment was also lent out to clear the mud from the floods and landslides and to make the roads passable again. Emergency kits were prepared for those who were most severely affected, providing them with essential supplies for the first few weeks.
Future
Currently, the foundation is helping villages to better prepare for natural disasters. This includes risk assessment, training local people in first aid, and establishing central depots for storing emergency supplies.