26 Des: Hari Relawan

Minggu, 26 Desember 2010 Pada 13.41 Diposting oleh IBNU TASRIFF AZHARI

“PAHLAWAN ADALAH SESEORANG YANG MELAKUKAN APA YANG MAMPU DIA LAKUKAN.”
-Romain Rolland (1866-1944)-

Di hari-hari ini, para pahlawan justru para Relawan yang telah merelakan waktu, hari, dan keringat serta keletihannya untuk menolong saudara-saudaranya. Tanpa pandang agama, ras, suku, dan lain sebagainya. Murni panggilan jiwa, hati, kebeningan nurani, tidak sekedar Pray For Indonesia, tapi dia benar-benar Act For Indonesia!
Para relawanlah sebenar-benar petinggi negeri ini. Berhati nurani. Berdedikasi untuk negeri. Dan bahu membahu untuk kepentingan bersama. Meninggalkan empuknya kasur bergantikan tenda-tenda tak nyaman, disertai ancaman untuk asap dan lahar yang setiap saat bisa menyerang.
Ah, benar-benar pahlawan para relawan itu…
Masih miris, bagaimana editor sekaligus wartawan Vivanews.com yang meninggal, atau relawan dari SCTV yang menyalakan genset untuk memberi penerangan kepada pengungsi, justru kesestrum dan meninggal. Semua didedikasikan untuk kepentingan bersama….
Ah, merekalah pahlawan itu….
Di saat rakyatnya tengah bertarung dengan kesusahan seperti ini, petinggi negeri ini, malah menjamu tamu dengan bakso dan nasi goreng. Ketawa-ketiwi membahas sesuatu. Kita pun sama-sama tak tahu apa yang dibahas. Masih urusan kenegaraan kah? Ataukah urusan kemanusiaan? Ataukah urusan ‘pokoknya biar kelihatan pemimpin negeri ada aktivitasnya gitu lah’. Lha rakyatnya saja bertarung dengan maut e. Malah pada cekikikan di istana. Benar-benar aneh tho…
Para relawan adalah pahlawan. Merekalah yang Act for Indonesia. Benar-benar ACT!
Karena 26 Desember adalah Hari Relawan, maka hari ini, adalah hari untuk benar-benar mengerti dengan sepenuh hati perjuangan para relawan…

Pahlawan di Masa Kini ialah Relawan yg Mengabdikan Diri Demi Kepentingan Manusiawi

Tanpa Mengharapkan Janji

(Ibnu Tasrif Azhari 26/12/2010)

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The ICRC in Pakistan

Sabtu, 25 Desember 2010 Pada 19.37 Diposting oleh IBNU TASRIFF AZHARI

The ICRC distributes food to flood victims in Sibi district in Pakistan. An ICRC field officer explains the contents of a food package to a boy who turned up on his own to fetch his ration.

The ICRC, which arrived in Pakistan in 1947, has been operating there uninterruptedly since 1981. Its current operations focus on: visiting security detainees; assisting residents and people displaced by armed violence; supporting the Pakistan Red Crescent Society; ensuring care of the weapon-wounded and the disabled; and promoting IHL and support for humanitarian action.

The record floods that struck Pakistan in July – August 2010 continue to take a massive toll on the country’s population, particularly on rural communities and remote regions already reeling from armed violence.
The hostilities that began in north-eastern Pakistan in mid-2008 have had dramatic effects on the humanitarian situation there. In particular, an upsurge in fighting between the Pakistani armed forces and armed groups in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) since May 2009 has left hundreds of thousands of residents stranded and deprived of basic services. It also triggered mass displacements of population, estimated at over 2.5 million people, from different districts and agencies in KP and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
The armed conflict in Afghanistan continues to affect the border areas of Baluchistan, with scores of casualties crossing the frontier into the province in search of medical care.
Access to people in need remains hampered by the fighting and related security measures, such as checkpoints and curfews, and constant population movements. However, working with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, the ICRC has stepped up its assistance to civilians in areas affected by the fighting and to internally displaced people (IDPs) who have found refuge in safer areas – in camps, among host families or other shelters. At the same time the ICRC is working to bring aid to 1.4 million people in desperate need of help following the devastating floods.
The ICRC has helped get the main hospitals in Buner and Swat up and running again, provided emergency relief to IDPs and restored family links severed by displacement.
The ICRC supports the Pakistan Red Crescent Society and other organizations in running services in IDP camps by improving water supply, constructing latrines and bathing and kitchen facilities, and providing cooked food and basic health care. Outside the camps, it supports the National Society’s mobile health units and supplies government health facilities. Following their return home, former IDPs receive wheat seed and fertilizer to enable them to resume livelihoods disrupted by the fighting.
In Peshawar the ICRC's surgical field hospital treats weapon-wounded patients. Its physical rehabilitation programme helps patients disabled by their injuries return to a normal life.
The ICRC has been visiting Pakistani detention facilities since 2007. It runs a programme that helps families keep in contact with relatives held in Pakistan or abroad.

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“I believe in the Red Cross principles”: Elisée Pierre, Red Cross volunteer turned staffer

Pada 19.33 Diposting oleh IBNU TASRIFF AZHARI

Gennike Mayers

“I was in philosophy class in 2007 when the Haitian Red Cross visited my high school for an information session. I made my first blood donation after that and have been giving blood every three months ever since.”

Today, 23-year-old Elisée Pierre is the assistant manager of a Red Cross warehouse in Port-au-Prince.

“Since the earthquake, lots of containers with humanitarian aid have been coming in from around the world. My job is to verify everything that enters the warehouse making sure that we receive what is written on the documents.”
Elisée is also completing his final year of a degree in interpreting at the International University of Haiti. It was his passion for foreign languages, coupled with his dedication as a volunteer that got the attention of Red Cross recruiters and landed him a job.

“I’ve always wanted to work with English and Spanish speakers, and I got the opportunity to do so with the Red Cross,” says Elisée. “My language skills are very useful in communicating with service providers and colleagues in the Dominican Republic where a lot of aid still transits. At the same time I’m helping to save lives.”

12 January

Elisée was in class when the earthquake hit. He recalls: “I got out of the building and my class mates followed me. After that, I headed home, but stopped to help people along the way.”

He remembers one family in particular – a man, a woman and their 16 year-old daughter he rescued from under the rubble of a house in Delmas 33, a suburb of Port-au-Prince. “I heard screams coming from inside a house. Some people helped me go inside and I was able to get them out. I was scared but I wanted to help.”

In the days following the earthquake, Elisée and his neighbours moved rubble, built small shelters with wood and tarpaulins, and assisted people who had been badly affected. He was soon called from the Haitian Red Cross asking him to report for volunteer duty. He went immediately. According to Pierre: “What really struck me during that period was the enthusiasm of volunteers. When we called around, people were happy to know that the Red Cross was gathering its forces to help.”

“My family had no problem with me being away. They understand that I’m a Red Cross volunteer and that I have a commitment to serve.”

Now, almost one year on from the earthquake, he pauses to reflect: “I have stayed with the Red Cross because I believe in the Red Cross principles. I enjoy humanitarian work and although I’m now a staff member and get paid for my work, I’m still a volunteer because I give blood and save lives.”

Today, 23-year-old Elisée Pierre is the assistant manager of a Red Cross warehouse in Port-au-Prince. (p-HTI1228)

“Since the earthquake, lots of containers with humanitarian aid have been coming in from around the world. My job is to verify everything that enters the warehouse making sure that we receive what is written on the documents.” (p-HTI1229)

Elisée is also completing his final year of a degree in interpreting at the International University of Haiti. (p-HTI1232)

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PMI Terima Bantuan Dua Mobil Tangki Air

Pada 19.24 Diposting oleh IBNU TASRIFF AZHARI

Ketua Umum PMI Jusuf Kalla menerima bantuan dari PT. Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian Motors berupa dua unit mobil tangki air berkapasitas 8.000 liter, di Markas Pusat PMI, Jakarta, Kamis (23/12). President Director PT. Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian Motors, Hidemoto Mizuhara menyerahkan langsung dua unit mobil tangki ini dan menyampaikan harapannya, semoga donasi berupa mobil tangki air ini dapat membantu para warga korban Merapi. Turut hadir mendampingi, Robert E. Warree, Director PT. Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian Motors.
Merespon bantuan tersebut, Ketua Umum PMI Jusuf Kalla mengucap, “Terima kasih atas donasi ini. Dua mobil tangki air ini akan menjadi fasilitas dukungan untuk program pemulihan dini di Merapi. PMI sedang menjalankan kegiatan distribusi air bersih kepada puluhan ribu kepala keluarga di sana.”
Dua unit mobil tangki air senilai Rp 500 jutaan ini, direncanakan akan dikirimkan langsung dari Jakarta ke lokasi bencana Merapi untuk mendukung program distribusi air bersih dari PMI kepada puluhan ribu kepala keluarga.
Pada hari yang sama, PMI juga menerima donasi dari PT. Profesional Telekomunikasi Indonesia sejumlah Rp 15 juta. Donasi untuk korban bencana Wasior, Mentawai, dan Merapi melalui PMI, juga datang dari PT. Natrindo Telepon Seluler sebesar Rp 15.015.930,-, PT. Worley Parsons Indonesia berupa 150 paket perlengkapan sekolah, 100 paket perlengkapan mandi, dan 100 paket alat pertukangan berupa gergaji, palu, sendok semen, dan tali tambang. Seluruhnya diserahterimakan di Markas Pusat PMI, Jakarta, Rabu siang (22/12).

PMI juga menerima donasi sebesar Rp 300 juta dari hasil penjualan tiket Laga Amal pertandingan sepakbola Liga Primer Indonesia (LPI) yang telah digelar pada 10 dan 12 November 2010. Pada acara ini, serah terima donasi dilakukan langsung oleh Pengurus Pusat PMI bidang Penggalangan Dana, Rahmat Gobel , di Hotel Indonesia Kempinski, Jakarta, Rabu malam (22/12) kemarin. Turut hadir di acara ini, Bendahara Markas Pusat PMI Suryani Motik.*

(Dok. Foto Oleh Ayu N. Andini, Staf Biro Humas Markas Pusat PMI)
Untuk informasi lebih lanjut, dapat menghubungi: Kepala DIvisi Pengembangan Sumber Daya Markas Pusat PMI, Muhammad Thoriq, Hp. 081808397300.

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