BANJARNEGARA, CENTRAL JAVA —— When a landslide occurred in the hills of Situkung Hamlet, Pandanarum Village, Pandanarum Subdistrict, Banjarnegara, on Sunday (11/16/2025) afternoon, residents ran away from their homes. The safety of themselves and their families was their only priority. They did not have time to save any of their belongings, except for the clothes on their backs.
This was also the case for Mustarom (35), a resident of Pandanarum Village who was affected by the landslide. He explained that almost nothing could be saved. The house where he lived with his wife and children was completely destroyed by the landslide.
Mustarom now lives in the Beji Village GOR evacuation center, Pandanarum District, with very limited personal belongings. This includes clothes for his youngest child, Arfam.
On Sunday (11/23/2025) night, when the Dompet Dhuafa Disaster Management Center (DMC) team distributed children’s clothes to child survivors at the Beji GOR Evacuation Post, Mustarom smiled. Actually, he was already asleep at that time, but the small cries of the children at the evacuation center, including Arfam, woke him up.
Read also: Together with the SAR Team, Dompet Dhuafa Successfully Finds 1 Victim of the Banjarnegara Landslide
Arfam looked cheerful, running around, carrying the new clothes he had received to show his mother, Fitri (33).
Arfam asked his mother to help him put on the new clothes. Next to him, Mustarom looked at him meaningfully. Calm. Seeing his son so excited to try on his new clothes.
“It’s very helpful. The children can change into clean clothes that are suitable for wearing. Because we didn’t bring many clothes,” said Mustarom.
Mustarom expressed his gratitude to those who had helped the survivors affected by the Banjarnegara landslide.
He and his family, as well as the other survivors, could not do much after the landslide occurred. They still depended on the endless kindness that came to help them recover from the difficult conditions caused by the disaster.
That night, DMC Dompet Dhuafa distributed children’s clothing to 43 child survivors at the Beji Sports Hall Refugee Camp, as well as light snacks for them.
At the same time, the DMC Dompet Dhuafa team distributed boiled foods, such as boiled sweet potatoes and boiled bananas, to refugees at the Beji Sports Hall Refugee Camp. These light snacks were perfect as rain continued to pour down on Pandanarum since the afternoon.
Ahmad Yamin, the person in charge of DMC Dompet Dhuafa in response to the landslide disaster in Banjarnegara, said that the DMC team would continue to provide assistance at the evacuation center.
“At the evacuation posts, DMC has set up a Warm Post service to ensure that food and drinks are available for the refugees,” said Ahmad.
Read also: Dompet Dhuafa Sends Humanitarian Aid After Landslide Hits Pasir Munjul Village in Purwakarta
Ahmad also explained that DMC Dompet Dhuafa continues to deploy personnel to assist in the search operation for victims who are still buried under the landslide in Situkung Hamlet.
“As of Sunday (11/23), there are 16 victims who are still being searched for. We continue to send teams to assist in this search mission every day despite the uncertain weather conditions,” explained Ahmad.
Friends, until conditions are fully restored, DMC Dompet Dhuafa will continue to be present to support the survivors in Banjarnegara. Join us in extending a helping hand to them through: LANDSLIDE CLAIMS 18 LIVES, HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS AFFECTED!. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Muhammad Afriza Adha, DMC
Editor: Dhika