MEDAN: The Majelis Rektor Perguruan Tinggi Negeri Indonesia (MRPTNI) and the USU Peduli Team conducted a visit and handed over assistance to several locations affected by landslides and floods in Sumatra from Thursday (29/01) to Friday (30/01/2026) in the Aceh Tamiang Regency area.

The team that visited the sites consisted of the Chair of MRPTNI, Eduart Wolok (Rector of Universitas Negeri Gorontalo), the Secretary General of MRPTNI, Muryanto Amin (Rector of Universitas Sumatera Utara), and rectors from 14 other state universities: Universitas Indonesia, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Universitas Sriwijaya, Universitas Malikussaleh, Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji, Universitas Teuku Umar, Universitas Tadulako, Universitas Samudra, Universitas Hasanuddin, Universitas Airlangga, Universitas Negeri Padang, Universitas Padjadjaran, and Universitas Sebelas Maret.

On the first day, the team handed over assistance to flood victims centered at the Tanjung Pura Subdistrict Office, Langkat Regency, received by the local subdistrict team. The visit continued to the Aceh Tamiang Regional General Hospital (RSUD), received directly by its Director, dr. Andika Putra, Sp.PD, along with staff and medical personnel. On that occasion, the inauguration of a bore well facilitated by USU was also carried out. It is hoped that the bore well will help resolve clean water issues for affected communities, enabling them to carry out daily activities and meet their needs properly.

The Rector of USU, who also serves as Secretary General of MRPTNI, Prof. Dr. Muryanto Amin, expressed gratitude to the RSUD Director and staff for welcoming the delegation. USU provided assistance in the form of nine bore wells and two water distillation units for several locations in Aceh Tamiang. He also explained that additional assistance gathered from MRPTNI member universities would be handed over on the same occasion.

“After this, we will continue to provide technical assistance in various forms for post-disaster handling. This includes educational programs for children in Aceh, as well as community service activities that will focus on rehabilitating affected areas,” said Prof. Muryanto.

Meanwhile, the Chair of MRPTNI, Prof. Dr. Ir. Eduart Wolok, ST., MT., IPU., ASEAN.Eng., stated in his remarks that MRPTNI’s presence represents the solidarity of one Indonesia, considering its members come from state universities across various regions of the country.

“We thank the Rector of USU for paving the way for us to deliver this assistance. What we provide today is not the first stage of aid, as previously we have deployed teams from various universities and distributed assistance since the early post-disaster period. This effort will not stop. We have even formed the National Higher Education Consortium for Natural Disaster Resilience, chaired by the Rector of USU, Prof. Muryanto Amin,” he explained.

Prof. Eduart also pledged that, as organizers of new student admissions, the rectors have agreed to conduct special admission selection for children from disaster-affected areas.

“Because we understand that this disaster has disrupted and damaged various aspects of life, special attention is required to ensure that the rights and opportunities of children in disaster areas to pursue higher education are not hindered. God willing, may our intentions and plans be made easy and blessed by Allah SWT, so that together we can achieve recovery in the affected regions,” he concluded.

MRPTNI continued its journey to deliver similar assistance to communities in Sawang District, North Aceh Regency. The aid provided included school supplies for elementary and junior high school students such as backpacks, uniforms, books, and stationery; male prayer equipment (sarongs, prayer mats, caps); female prayer equipment (mukena and sarongs); mineral water, dates, and bread. The team also took time to communicate directly with disaster victims, particularly women and children as vulnerable groups present at the event.

On Friday (30/01), the visit continued to Meunasah Reuleut Timur to inspect a clean water filtration (water treatment) facility provided by Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember in collaboration with Universitas Malikussaleh. The activities concluded with a gathering between MRPTNI and local community leaders at the rectorate of Universitas Malikussaleh. (RJ)