UIN Bukittinggi’s Mission of Mercy in Aceh Tamiang
ACEH TAMIANG — The metallic groan of suspension bridge cables, swaying precariously against the sky, serves as a haunting soundtrack for the residents of Pengidam Village. Below, the river that once roared with fury has settled into a deceptive calm. Yet, the thick, grey silt caking the remnants of homes whispers a grim truth: the wounds of the flash flood are far from healed.
For the delegation from the Institute for Research and Community Service (LP2M) at the Sjech M. Djamil Djambek State Islamic University (UIN) Bukittinggi, this was no mere bureaucratic excursion. It was a pilgrimage of "Ukhuwah"—an Islamic bond of brotherhood—to reach those tested by what many here stoically call the will of the Almighty.
Led by Dr. H. Muhiddinur Kamal, M.Pd., the team deliberately bypassed the accessible to reach the isolated, crossing into territories where bridges had long since surrendered to the deluge.To touch the hearts of these remote survivors, the team gambled on "getek"—fragile wooden rafts—navigating the same currents that had recently destroyed everything in their path. "Tears fall when you see our brothers and sisters here," Kamal says,
his voice thick with emotion. "They are literally living in the mud, sheltered only by thinning tents," he adds.
The contrast is jarring. Near the regional capital, temporary and permanent housing projects are slowly taking root. But deeper into the hinterlands of Rantau District, the promise of a roof and four walls feels as if it has been washed downstream. Here, there are no certainties—only the resilience of those huddled under plastic tarps, their prayers rising from the mire.
Healing Through the Spirit
The mission, which spanned from March 12 to 19, 2026, carried a dual mandate. Beyond material logistics, they brought a "spiritual salve" for the traumatized soul. Beneath damp tent canvases, the rhythmic echoes of "dzikir" and prayer rose in praise of the Creator, an attempt to wash away the trauma etched deep into the survivors' psyches.
In addition to psychological support, the LP2M team delivered 203 million Rupiah in direct cash assistance—a vital lifeline for those who lost a lifetime of belongings in a single afternoon. The team’s focus remained unwavering: to honor the forgotten. "This experience is a stark reminder," observes Kamal.
"Those in the interior, cut off from the world, must be our priority. This is the true essence of Islamic compassion, " Kamal explains.
The initiative received full backing from the Rector of UIN Bukittinggi, Prof. Dr. Silfia Hanani, M.Si., who views the university’s presence in disaster zones as a moral imperative. "What the team has done in Aceh Tamiang is the embodiment of the human and spiritual values we cherish," Hanani says.
"UIN Bukittinggi is committed to being more than just an academic tower; we must be a living presence that touches the hearts of those enduring life’s greatest trials, " She adds.
As the team prepared to depart for Padang in the pre-dawn darkness of 3:30 AM, the memory of the swaying bridges and the chug of the raft engines lingered. The physical journey may have ended, but the mission to amplify the voices of Tamiang’s survivors has only just begun. There, between the tents and the river, humanity is being tested by time—and the world is watching to see if the sun will finally rise over Tamiang’s horizon.
Source: IO UIN Bukittinggi
Auliyaa Ikrami
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- Auliyaa Ikrami
- io@uinbukittinggi.ac.id
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