Benny Matthew, President of the KSI, handed over the donations through Deputy Secretary General for the Association of Supersemar Scholarship Recipients Agus Riyanto here on Sunday.
Riyanto, accompanied by Dr Zinggara Hidayat, a lecturer of the University of Indonesia, and was born in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province, pledged to distribute the humanitarian fund, food, clothes, and instant noodles, to the victims.
Lombok Island has thrice been hit by strong earthquakes. The first quake, measuring 6.4 on Richter Scale, rocked the resort island on July 29, while the second major quake hit it on August 5.
On August 9, another major quake, measuring 6.2 on the Richter Scale, again hit Lombok when workers were still busy looking for victims being buried under the rubble of buildings that collapsed after the magnitude 7 earthquake shook the island.
The strong-intensity quake, which rocked Lombok Island on Sunday evening, reportedly killed at least 347 people and injured 236 people. It also damaged thousands of houses and forced tens of thousands of local residents to take refuge.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that the death toll is forecast to rise, as several people still remain buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings.
Giving donations to the Lombok quake victims is just one of the KSI`s humanitarian programs.
This organization has recently handed over donations to several orphanages in Jakarta.
"The 200-member association, recognized by the Indian Embassy in Jakarta, is formed with an intention to create harmonious relations among the community members," said Matthew, accompanied by Jaleel Kottay Saidumohamed and other KSI members.
Meanwhile, Jaleel Kottay Saidumohamed said the KSI would also send donations to flood victims in Kerala.
The flash floods in Kerala have killed a number of people and displaced thousands after heavy monsoons led to landslides and overflowing reservoirs across the southern state, said Jaleel.
Kerala, famed for its pristine palm-lined beaches and tea plantations, is battered by the monsoon every year but the rains have been particularly severe this season.
Mathew said further that one of the initiatives of the present KSI Managing Committee was to conduct regular visits of its members to various orphanages in Jakarta and its greater areas, and offer any possible support to the needy.
"The most recent visit was to Panti Asuhan Harapan Remaja at Rawamangun, East Jakarta, where the KSI members donated food, clothes and money to the 50 orphan students there," he said.
KSI has organized similar activities very recently at Pusat Santunan Keluarga Pusaka Cilincing and Binayatul Abna Yayasan Pondok Kopi. Also the students of Binayatul Abna Yayasan Pondok Kopi on were invited to perform a cultural art show during the Ifthar (fast-breaking) that KSI organized.
KSI plans to do similar activities at many more orphanages and schools in Indonesia, where more KSI members will join along with their family and children so that their children can also observe and understand challenges in real life.
Editing by Rahmad Nasuton
Reporter: Mohamad Anthoni
Editor: Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani
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