In a statement issued on Sunday, Lieutenant Colonel Dekki Sujatmiko, a personnel officer at the Iskandar Muda Regional Military Command (Kodam), said the trauma-healing initiative was carried out under direct orders from Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak.
He emphasized that the Indonesian military is working closely with local governments, health workers, disaster response volunteers, and residents to deliver services urgently needed by children experiencing psychological distress following the disasters.
“Some children are suffering from anxiety and stress after losing their homes or family members. This trauma-healing activity is intended to help them recover mentally, ease their anxiety, and bring smiles back to their faces,” Sujatmiko said.
He added that the TNI has distributed various recreational items to comfort children affected by the disasters, which struck multiple districts and cities in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra in late November.
“We brought swings, slides, Rubik’s Cubes, hula hoops, balls, and toy kitchen sets,” he said.
Mariani, one of the evacuees, confirmed that the psychosocial support has significantly improved the children’s mental well-being.
“Soldiers from the Iskandar Muda Kodam came here to provide trauma healing and entertain the children. In addition to trauma healing, they also brought toys, snacks, and drinks, and invited the children to sing along. The children are no longer gloomy,” she said.
She expressed gratitude to the government and the military for their continuous efforts to ensure evacuees’ basic needs are met, noting that access to food, clothing, and medical services has been adequate.
“Dermatology, cardiology, and general medical services are available every day,” she added.
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Translator: Nadia P, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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