Easing the Grief of Residents Affected by the Fire in Manggarai Neighborhood

Journalist : Arimami Suryo A, Felicite Angela Maria (He Qi Pusat), Photographer : Arimami Suryo A

The Buddha Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia provided relief to the fire victims in Manggarai, South Jakarta, by distributing 888 fire aid packages to the displaced residents.

Dwi (42) was observed organizing donated clothes at a shelter tent near the Pasaraya Building in Manggarai. She is a resident of RT 03/06, Manggarai, Tebet District, South Jakarta, whose home was destroyed by a fire early Tuesday morning, August 13, 2024. “I usually wake up at 3 a.m., but at 2 a.m. I heard people shouting about the fire. Fortunately, there was a water pond next to my house, so when I opened the door, I saw many people moving around to collect water,” Dwi recounted.

Without hesitation, Dwi alerted her niece and mother, who live with her, to evacuate for safety. “I didn’t consider anything else, as the fire was already very close—just two houses away from the origin. The primary concern was to ensure our safety,” she stated.

Dwi was only able to retrieve important documents as she, her niece, and mother fled amidst the panic of the other residents, making their way to the open area at Manggarai Airport Train Station, which is situated near the affected neighborhood. “The situation was overwhelming and chaotic. We managed to take only our clothes and important documents. At the train station, we felt disoriented and helpless, watching as the fire continued to intensify,” recounted Dwi, who works in a school cafeteria in Tebet.

Dwi (right), a resident affected by the fire in RT 03/06, Manggarai, along with her niece, opens a fire relief package from Tzu Chi at the shelter tent.

By morning, Dwi and thousands of other residents were still taking refuge in the open area at Manggarai Airport Train Station, unsure of what to do next. By midday, the fire victims were relocated to shelter tents near the Pasaraya Building in Manggarai. During their time at the shelters, relief efforts began to arrive to assist the fire victims, including support from the Buddha Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia, which was distributed on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.

Dwi expressed her gratitude for the support given to those affected by the fire. After receiving a relief coupon on the same day, she, along with hundreds of other residents, lined up to exchange the coupon for a fire aid package from Tzu Chi.

“We received mosquito nets, towels, sarongs, blankets, sandals, clothes for children and adults, buckets, scoops, toiletries, and more. These items are incredibly useful for our daily needs. We are very thankful to Buddha Tzu Chi for easing our burden,” Dwi shared at the shelter tent.

Ningsih’s face lights up with happiness as she takes a moment to rest after queuing with hundreds of other fire victims to collect a fire aid package from Tzu Chi.

Ningsih (39), a resident of RT 10/06, Manggarai, Tebet District, South Jakarta, who also lost her home in the fire, experienced significant relief upon receiving aid from Tzu Chi. On the night of the incident, she had just fallen asleep when her husband woke her up, saying, "I had just gone to sleep when my husband woke me up, saying, 'There’s a fire.' The power was already out, so it was completely dark," Ningsih recounted.

Like many other fire victims, Ningsih managed to save only a few pieces of clothing and her family members. "When I looked outside, the flames were already very high, so we had to run. Our diplomas, TV, refrigerator, clothes, and other belongings were all destroyed," she explained.

Currently, Ningsih, along with her husband and two children, is temporarily staying with her parents.

After exchanging her coupon for a fire aid package from Tzu Chi, Ningsih did not immediately return to her parents' home. Instead, she took a moment to rest while observing the volunteers distributing fire aid packages to other residents.

"Thank God, it’s been very helpful. The package contains many useful items, including towels, blankets, underwear, buckets, scoops, and more. I want to thank the Buddha Tzu Chi Foundation for this assistance; it has been incredibly beneficial for me and my family. Wishing good health and blessings to the volunteers," Ningsih expressed.

A Field of Blessings for Helping Others

The fire that occurred on Jl. Remaja, Manggarai, Tebet District, South Jakarta, early Tuesday morning, August 13, 2024, razed homes across RW 05, 06, and 12, impacting a total of 21 RTs. This disaster has displaced 3,332 individuals from 1,172 families, leaving them without shelter.

The densely populated residential area affected by the fire in Manggarai includes 3 RW and a total of 21 RTs. The blaze has displaced 3,332 individuals from 1,172 families, leaving them without shelter.

A combined team of 61 volunteers from He Qi Center, South Xie Li, Tzu Ching, and Tzu Chi Indonesia’s Emergency Response Team expressed their gratitude and supported the residents after distributing the fire aid packages.

In response to the fire disaster, the Buddha Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia distributed 888 fire relief packages to assist the victims at the parking area of the Pasaraya Building in Manggarai. The aid, packaged in container boxes, included blankets, wearable clothing, underwear, toiletries, sarongs, sandals, buckets, mosquito nets, and other essential items.

Due to the large number of fire relief packages being distributed, a combined team of 61 volunteers from He Qi Center, South Xie Li, Tzu Ching, and the Tzu Chi Indonesia Emergency Response Team worked together to distribute the aid packages to the residents. Zakirah Hanifah Iskandar, a young volunteer involved in the effort, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to assist the fire victims. “I hope the affected residents can recover quickly. We are always grateful and thankful for all the assistance provided by Tzu Chi,” she said.

Zakirah Hanifah Iskandar, one of the young volunteers, participated in distributing coupons to the fire victims.

Accompanied by the Tzu Chi Indonesia Emergency Response Team, Muara (in gray) provided instructions to other volunteers regarding the distribution of fire relief packages in Manggarai, South Jakarta.

Zakirah, who joined in 2024, is also pleased to be part of the Tzu Chi volunteer team. She has learned a great deal about coordinating effectively with other volunteers, developing her skills, and gaining confidence in social interactions. “Although I am relatively new, having joined just a few months ago, I want to encourage others to be open-minded and thoughtful. Everyone is welcome to participate in activities with Tzu Chi, regardless of their beliefs or background,” Zakirah stated.

Muara, the coordinator of the fire relief distribution in Manggarai, expressed fulfillment at being able to help ease the suffering of the fire victims. “The real impact is not just in the packages we distribute. Our main goal is to offer encouragement and support. We hope that this aid, combined with our moral support, will inspire residents to remain hopeful, avoid despair, and recover more quickly and effectively,” Muara said during the event.

Translator: Vissia (Tzu Chi School)