Together with the Rector of ITB, Prof. Dr. Ir. Tatacipta Dirgantara, M.T., a series of visits and community service activities were carried out as a manifestation of scientific synergy, social concern, and strengthened cross-sector collaboration in responding to the impacts of disasters.

Strengthening Humanitarian Collaboration in Affected Areas
The Rector of ITB visited a number of disaster-affected locations, including Banda Aceh, Bener Meriah, Lhokseumawe, and North Aceh (Keude Bungkaih and Lhok Puuk), Langsa, Aceh Tamiang, Tanjung Pura, and Medan. In Banda Aceh, the Rector met with the Rector of Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Mayor of Banda Aceh, a Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) from Aceh, and the Vice Governor of Aceh.

The visit aimed to strengthen humanitarian collaboration while reinforcing the role of higher education institutions in supporting post-disaster recovery in Sumatra, particularly during the rehabilitation and reconstruction phases. Complete documentation of this series of activities is featured in the book Rising from a Life Full of Mud (Bangkit dari Hidup Penuh Lumpur).

Initiating a University Consortium for Disaster Recovery
As a follow-up, ITB initiated plans to establish a consortium of universities for disaster recovery in Sumatra. This initiative took shape through the Workshop and Abhinaya Gallery event held on Tuesday (12/01/2026) at the Soemardja Gallery, ITB. The event featured speakers from BNPB and JICA and was attended by various universities, including USK, Unimal, Unsam, USU, Unand, UNP, UI, IPB, ITB, UGM, UNS, ITS, UNESA, and UNAIR. The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology also delivered remarks.

The Abhinaya Gallery ran until Sunday (18/01/2026). The strengthening of the consortium continued through a meeting at Universitas Indonesia on Wednesday (14/01/2026), attended by the Director General of Research and Development (Dirjen Risbang) of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek), along with university leaders.

Prioritizing Clean Water and Essential Services

^{The Rector of ITB, Prof. Dr. Ir. Tatacipta Dirgantara, M.T., along with his delegation, paid a courtesy visit to the Mayor of Banda Aceh, Hj. Illiza Sa’aduddin Djamal, in Aceh on Friday (26/12/2025). Prof. Tata presented various community service programs and assistance ranging from staple food packages to water treatment installations, resulting from a collaboration between ITB and the ITB Alumni Association, YPM Salman Mosque ITB, Rumah Amal Salman, the Aceh Chapter of the ITB Alumni Association, and ITB alumni chapters in West Sumatra and North Sumatra.}

On the ground, ITB has been working with the ITB Alumni Association (IA-ITB) in affected areas and Rumah Amal Salman (RAS) since 28 November 2025. One key focus has been the provision of clean water through the delivery of IGW Membrane Ultra Filtration (MUF) Water Treatment Installations (IPA). Six MUF IPA units were transported directly to Aceh, while 41 additional units were shipped to West Sumatra, North Sumatra, and Aceh via Hercules aircraft through coordination with BNPB and the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU).

In addition, IA-ITB sent one Starlink unit to support internet connectivity as well as a water treatment device with a capacity of approximately 1,000 liters per hour. To date, the equipment has been installed at 35 out of the 50 planned locations, supported by funding from alumni and the wider community.

ITB also deployed a higher-capacity water treatment system—up to 7,000 liters per hour—operated in Aceh Tamiang to process turbid river water into clean water. Other assistance distributed included food packages, cooking fuel, and copies of the Qur’an (particularly in Aceh). Since 12 January 2026, field operations have also been strengthened through the use of heavy equipment, such as mini excavators, to clear mud from roads and residents’ homes.

“The most urgent need we found in the field is access to clean water. Many community water sources are covered by mud and unfit for consumption, making the provision of ready-to-drink water our top priority,” said Prof. Zulfiadi.

Deploying Cross-Faculty Teams for Health and Psychosocial Support
The involvement of ITB’s academic community is reflected in the deployment of four multidisciplinary teams of lecturers and students from various schools and faculties: the School of Pharmacy (SF), the School of Life Sciences and Technology (SITH), the School of Electrical Engineering and Informatics (STEI), the Faculty of Mining and Petroleum Engineering (FTTM), the Faculty of Art and Design (FSRD), and the School of Architecture, Planning, and Policy Development (SAPPK).

These teams received funding from Kemendiktisaintek and carried out community service activities in West Sumatra, North Sumatra, and Aceh. Their work included distributing logistical aid, conducting health checks, providing medical services, and offering psychosocial support for affected communities, in collaboration with local universities, the Indonesian National Armed Forces/Police (TNI/Polri), and local governments. Beyond health services, psychosocial support was also a key concern, especially for vulnerable groups such as children, older adults, and mothers.

Addressing Access Challenges Through Stronger Field Coordination
However, the implementation of assistance has not been without challenges. Limited access to affected locations due to damaged infrastructure has been a major obstacle in aid distribution and volunteer mobilization. “Intensive coordination with BNPB, TNI/Polri, and local governments is key to ensuring aid can still reach communities,” he explained.

Field experiences have further strengthened ITB’s commitment to contribute not only during the emergency response phase, but also in long-term recovery. In the short term, ITB hopes this assistance can help meet communities’ basic needs so they can resume daily activities. In the long term, ITB aims to play a strategic role in rehabilitation, reconstruction, and strengthening disaster mitigation capacity.

Replicating a Community Engagement Model for Mitigation and Preparedness
Going forward, ITB through DPMK plans to replicate this community engagement model in other disaster-prone regions across Indonesia. The program will be developed as a sustainable model—from emergency response to mitigation and preparedness—based on field needs and the characteristics of each disaster.

Multi-stakeholder collaboration with BNPB/BPBD, local governments, universities, IA-ITB chapters in the regions, and philanthropic partners will continue to be strengthened to ensure continuity and tangible impact for communities.