PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, or BNI, deployed volunteers to directly participate in disaster management and early recovery efforts for affected communities in Aceh. The BNI volunteers' involvement is part of a joint initiative by the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) through the BUMN Peduli (SOE Cares) program, "One Heart for Sumatra," coordinated by Danantara Indonesia.
BNI volunteers were dispatched along with hundreds of volunteers from 11 state-owned enterprises and focused on strengthening humanitarian activities in the affected areas, particularly North Aceh and Southeast Aceh, which served as the main disaster response posts.
The release of volunteers was carried out at Kualanamu International Airport, Medan, and was led by the Head of the SOE Regulatory Agency and COO of Danantara Indonesia, Dony Oskaria, and attended by representatives of SOE management, including BNI officials.
On the field, BNI volunteers joined with volunteers from across state-owned enterprises to distribute logistical aid, clean the environment, residents' homes, and public facilities, as part of efforts to accelerate the recovery of community activities after the disaster.
As a form of operational support, BNI also distributed logistical assistance via three trucks carrying cleaning supplies, sanitation materials, and supporting equipment such as water tanks, water pumps, generators, and volunteer safety equipment. This assistance was prepared to support the immediate needs of the community and the activities of volunteers on the field.
BNI Corporate Secretary Okki Rushartomo said that the involvement of volunteers is a form of BNI's concern and social responsibility as part of a state-owned enterprise.
"Through the direct involvement of volunteers, BNI wants to ensure that aid not only reaches the affected community but also truly benefits them. The presence of volunteers is expected to help expedite the recovery process so that residents can gradually return to their daily activities," Okki said in a written statement.
The BNI volunteers deployed came from various work units in the Sumatra region, including BNI Region 01, Region 02, Medan Branch, North Sumatra University Branch, and Medan Industrial Area Branch, as a form of the spirit of mutual cooperation and solidarity of BNI employees.
Through the SOEs synergy in the BUMN Peduli program, all assistance and volunteer activities are carried out with a coordinated approach and based on on-the-field needs, in line with the principles of working quickly, precisely, and with impact.
"This SOEs synergy demonstrates the strong commitment of state-owned companies to serving and protecting the public, especially during emergency situations caused by disasters," Okki emphasized.
BNI, along with the state-owned enterprises (BUMN) big family, will continue to monitor developments in Aceh and adjust the support needed as part of the SOEs’ active role in supporting the recovery of disaster-affected communities.
Further information regarding BNI's humanitarian activities and social programs can be accessed via www.bni.co.id, which is part of the Danantara Indonesia ecosystem (www.danantaraindonesia.co.id).