The Postgraduate Student Association of Universitas Gadjah Mada (HMP UGM) distributed 50 tanker loads of clean water, totaling about 250,000 liters, to drought-affected communities in Terbah Village, Gunungkidul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, on Sunday (October 11).
Norol Latifah, Chair of HMP UGM, expressed concern about the conditions Gunungkidul residents face during the dry season. Some residents have even had to sell agricultural produce, such as cassava, to obtain clean water. She hoped the assistance would help ease their difficulties.
“This assistance may not solve all the problems, but we hope it can help ease the burden on the community. We also hope the rainy season will arrive soon so that the drought gradually subsides and residents can access clean water more easily,” she said on Tuesday (October 13).
Of the total assistance allocated, Norol explained that 175,000 liters of clean water had been distributed in the initial phase to residents of Karang and Kayugrit hamlets. The remaining 75,000 liters are scheduled to be distributed to other affected areas.
The water is being delivered in stages by tanker trucks to designated distribution points, including residential areas, places of worship, and educational facilities. On average, four to five tankers are dispatched each day, depending on the storage capacity available at each location.
“We would also like to thank UGM’s Directorate of Student Affairs for facilitating the funding, as well as Bimasakti’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, the Terbah Village Government, and everyone involved in distributing the assistance,” Norol said.
Terbah Village Head Giyanto explained that drought is a recurring problem in the area during the dry season. Of the six hamlets in Terbah Village, several have been severely affected. Previous efforts to provide water through drilled wells have not fully met residents’ needs during the dry season.
“During the rainy season, the water supply is sufficient. However, during the dry season, the available water is no longer enough to meet the community’s needs,” he said.
Giyanto also expressed his gratitude to HMP UGM and everyone who had provided assistance. He hoped that various parties would continue working together to address the drought so that residents would no longer have to rely on water tanker deliveries every dry season.
“We thank HMP UGM and everyone who has helped our residents. We hope this assistance will help meet the community’s basic needs and bring blessings to everyone,” he said.
Beyond distributing clean water, HMP UGM hopes this initiative will mark the beginning of sustained collaboration with the local government and other relevant stakeholders. One proposed follow-up initiative is environmental greening through tree planting, including banyan trees, to protect the environment and improve the area’s long-term water retention capacity.
Through this initiative, HMP UGM underscores that UGM graduate students’ commitment extends beyond academic achievement to tangible action that addresses one of the community’s most fundamental needs: access to safe, adequate clean water for all residents.
Author: Jesi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Zabrina Kumara
Photo: HMP UGM Documentation