School Uniforms Sold Out On Fire, 46 Children Victims Of The Empty Garden Fire Absent From PTM

Victims of the Kebon Blank fire in the refugee camp. (Photo: Rizky Sulistio/ VOI)

JAKARTA - Dozens of school students who were victims of the fire in RT 014/005, Kebon Blank Village, Kemayoran District, Central Jakarta are still waiting for help with school uniforms from the Central Jakarta City Government.

The reason is, currently a number of schools have implemented Face-to-face Learning (PTM) according to the instructions of the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan.

Based on the data collected, the number of school children affected by the fire was 46 students. Of that number, there were 25 elementary school (SD) students, 9 junior high school students and 12 high school students.

Dewi (40), one of the parents of the Kebon Blank fire victims, said that the fire incident greatly disrupted her child's learning process. Moreover, the problem of textbooks that were sold out on fire.

"All the textbooks were burned, and the school uniforms were also burned. So it couldn't be saved," he told VOI, Tuesday, August 31.

Dewi said that her son, Ardi Firmansyah, was still in 8th grade junior high school. He still needed uniforms and textbooks.

He regretted the fire that broke out in his house. Even so, he said, he had reported it to the school and would get help with new books.

"I hope the government must respond quickly, yes, for education. Because if there is a fire, we can't bring it all, it's really a struggle to save our own lives. So when it comes to schools, we have to be number one," he hoped.

Dewi also asked the government's attention to be more serious in handling education issues for victims of fires and other disasters.

"Especially school facilities, such as pencils and pens, you have to buy them. I have a baby too. Usually school children ride motorcycle taxis to pay for costs. My husband works in a factory, I am a housewife," she said.

Furthermore, for school shoes, he continued, the Social Service has collected data.

Meanwhile, Atje (71), Head of RW 005, added that regarding the needs of schools, the government has conducted a review of the refugee camps and provided assistance.

"Alhamdulillah, last night the sub-district head and village head came. The Social Service has provided bags and uniforms. But we still need additional school uniforms for school students and pampers for toddlers," he said.