A natural disaster thousands of kilometers away has brought communities across Papua together. Following the devastating earthquake that struck Flores, Nusa Tenggara Timur (East Nusa Tenggara, or NTT) on August 15, 2026, people in Papua have responded with fundraising drives, charity events, and public appeals for assistance. The Papua solidarity for Flores earthquake victims has involved not only the East Nusa Tenggara diaspora but also Papuan communities, religious organizations, youth groups, government employees, and other ethnic associations.
In Papua Barat (West Papua), fundraising organized by the Perkumpulan Rumah Besar Flobamora, or PRBF, had collected approximately Rp167.641 million by August 25. The organizers emphasized that the campaign was not carried out by the Flores diaspora alone. Other community associations and members of the wider public in Manokwari also contributed.
The response offers a view of Indonesia that is sometimes less visible in political headlines: a geographically vast country in which communities separated by thousands of kilometers can still respond to one another in moments of crisis. In Papua, that response has taken a particularly personal form because many people from NTT have built families, careers, and communities across the region.
A Disaster That Crossed Geographical Boundaries
The earthquake in Flores immediately created an emergency that extended beyond the affected communities themselves. Reports from local authorities cited by PRBF described a 14-day emergency response period from August 15 to August 28. As the scale of the disaster became clearer, solidarity initiatives began appearing in different parts of Papua.
In Manokwari, the fundraising campaign began on August 17. Volunteers took to several roads and public areas to invite motorists and residents to contribute. Donations also came from government officials, community organizations, and other institutions. By August 25, the campaign had raised more than Rp167 million.
The figure is significant not simply because of its monetary value. It demonstrates how humanitarian assistance can mobilize social networks that already exist between provinces.
PRBF said similar initiatives were taking place in other parts of Papua Barat, including Manokwari Selatan, Teluk Wondama, Fakfak, and Kaimana. The organization was coordinating with district-level chapters to determine how the collected funds would be transferred to communities affected by the disaster in Flores.
That coordination is important. Fundraising after a disaster can be emotionally powerful, but effective humanitarian assistance also depends on transparency, accountability, and appropriate distribution mechanisms.
From Diaspora Solidarity to Wider Community Support
One of the most notable aspects of the Papua response is the participation of communities beyond the NTT diaspora.
In Manokwari, PRBF chairman Clinton Tallo said that other regional associations had joined the fundraising effort. The campaign therefore became broader than an initiative by people supporting their relatives or fellow migrants from Flores. It developed into a community response based on humanitarian concern.
This pattern was also visible in Sorong. The Ikatan Keluarga Kei Aimas organized a fundraising activity for the earthquake victims and described its motivation as humanitarian solidarity regardless of ethnicity, regional origin, or social background.
Such initiatives are particularly meaningful in Papua, where communities from different parts of Indonesia live alongside Indigenous Papuan communities. Migration, education, government service, commerce, and religious networks have created complex social connections across the region.
The Flores earthquake consequently became more than a disaster occurring on another island. For many people in Papua, it affected relatives, friends, neighbors, and fellow members of communities that have become part of everyday life.
Jayapura Turns Public Spaces into Places of Solidarity
The humanitarian response has also been visible in Jayapura, Papua Province.
Members of the Ikatan Keluarga Flobamora in Jayapura organized a campaign known as “Pray for Flores” at several busy intersections. The initiative was designed to reach members of the public directly and encourage voluntary contributions for earthquake survivors.
The fundraising was organized at locations including Waena, Abepura, and Dok 2. These are busy areas where residents, workers, and travelers pass throughout the day. Volunteers used the opportunity to explain the purpose of the campaign and collect donations from members of the public.
The choice of location is significant. Rather than limiting the campaign to formal institutions or closed community meetings, organizers brought humanitarian action into public spaces.
At Abepura, for example, volunteers approached motorists while traffic lights were red. At Waena, the campaign was conducted along a major route connecting Jayapura with Jayapura Regency and Sentani Airport. At Dok 2, the campaign was held near government offices.
The organizers also emphasized accountability. According to Cenderawasih Pos, the campaign was conducted with authorization from the Jayapura City Social Affairs Office, while organizers planned to calculate the proceeds transparently before distributing them through appropriate humanitarian channels.
Young People Turn Culture into Humanitarian Action
Solidarity has not been limited to traditional fundraising.
In Papua Selatan, young people from the NTT community have also used cultural and entertainment activities to raise support for Flores. A charity concert organized by young people from the NTT community in Papua Selatan provided another channel through which music and cultural identity could be connected with humanitarian assistance.
This approach is important because young people often communicate through cultural networks that extend beyond formal institutions. Music, community gatherings, and religious celebrations can create accessible spaces where humanitarian messages reach wider audiences.
The result is a form of social participation that does not depend exclusively on government programs. Communities themselves become active participants in disaster response.
Religious Communities Join the Humanitarian Effort
Religion has also provided an important platform for solidarity.
In Sorong, the Badan Kontak Majelis Taklim used a Maulid Nabi Muhammad gathering as an opportunity to collect donations for people affected by the Flores earthquake. The initiative demonstrates how religious events can become spaces for humanitarian engagement.
A similar effort was reported among Muslim communities in Jayawijaya, where worshippers used a Maulid gathering to raise funds for earthquake victims in NTT.
The significance extends beyond the amount collected. These initiatives show that humanitarian values can connect communities across geographical, ethnic, and religious boundaries.
In a country as diverse as Indonesia, social cohesion is rarely expressed through a single institution. It often emerges from many small networks operating simultaneously: religious communities, family associations, universities, youth organizations, government employees, ethnic associations, and ordinary citizens.
The response to the Flores earthquake illustrates precisely this kind of decentralized solidarity.
Government Employees and Civic Groups Also Contribute
The solidarity movement has also reached government institutions and civil society organizations.
In Manokwari, voluntary contributions from provincial and district government officials became part of the wider fundraising campaign. PRBF said donations had also come from universities, community organizations, political groups, and other institutions.
Separately, civil servants in Manokwari Regency participated in fundraising efforts for earthquake survivors.
This involvement matters because disaster response requires cooperation between state institutions and society. Government agencies possess administrative capacity and access to official channels, while community organizations often have stronger grassroots networks.
When the two work alongside one another, humanitarian assistance can potentially move more efficiently from donors to affected communities.
More Than a Fundraising Campaign
The Papua solidarity for Flores earthquake victims should, therefore, be understood within a broader Indonesian context.
Indonesia is an archipelagic country stretching across thousands of kilometers, with hundreds of ethnic groups, numerous languages, and diverse religious traditions. The physical distance between Papua and Flores is substantial, but social connections frequently overcome geography.
For people of NTT origin living in Papua, the disaster was deeply personal. Yet the response did not remain confined to their community. Other Papuan residents and migrant communities joined them.
That distinction is important.
A disaster can reveal vulnerabilities, but it can also reveal relationships. In this case, the earthquake exposed a network of human connections extending from Flores to Manokwari, Sorong, Jayapura, Timika, Jayawijaya, and other parts of Papua.
It also provides an alternative lens through which to understand social relations in Papua. Discussions about the region often focus heavily on politics, security, and development. Those issues remain important, but everyday cooperation among communities is another part of the story.
Humanitarian solidarity does not erase differences in identity or political perspective. Instead, it creates a practical space where people can work together around a shared concern.
Solidarity as Part of Indonesia’s Social Fabric
The response from Papua also carries a broader message about national cohesion.
Indonesia’s unity is not sustained only by national institutions or political declarations. It is also built through ordinary acts of mutual assistance. A donation placed into a collection box at an intersection in Jayapura, a contribution from a civil servant in Manokwari, a religious gathering in Sorong, or a charity performance in Papua Selatan may appear small individually.
Together, however, such actions form a social network.
The Rp167.641 million collected in Papua Barat provides one measurable example. But the wider significance lies in the participation of communities that do not necessarily share the same ethnic background or place of origin.
For an international audience, the data offers a useful perspective on Indonesia’s diversity. The country is not simply a collection of distant islands. It is also a dense network of migration, family, religion, culture, and civic relationships.
A Humanitarian Message from Papua
The response also reinforces the importance of community-based disaster preparedness.
Natural disasters cannot always be prevented, but their consequences can be mitigated through rapid response, reliable institutions, and strong social networks. Community fundraising cannot substitute for professional emergency management, reconstruction, and long-term recovery. It can, however, provide immediate support and demonstrate that affected communities are not alone.
The next stage will be ensuring that donations are distributed transparently and reach people with the greatest needs. PRBF has said it is coordinating with district chapters to determine whether funds will be transferred through the provincial organization or sent directly to Flores.
That process will be important for maintaining public confidence.
Conclusion
The story of the Flores earthquake has been marked by loss, displacement, and uncertainty. But from across Indonesia, including Papua, another story has emerged: one of compassion crossing geographical and social boundaries.
From Manokwari’s streets to Jayapura’s busy intersections, from Sorong’s religious gatherings to youth activities in Papua Selatan, communities have responded in different ways to the suffering of people in Flores. The Rp167.641 million raised in Papua Barat is a tangible expression of that solidarity, while the participation of other communities shows that the response has extended beyond the NTT diaspora.
For Papua, this moment carries a message that reaches beyond disaster relief. It demonstrates how cultural diversity, migration, and community networks can become sources of strength during a national emergency. The solidarity shown toward Flores does not depend on geographic proximity. It is rooted in a broader sense of shared humanity and belonging.
As Indonesia continues to face earthquakes, floods, landslides, and other natural hazards, such community networks will remain valuable. Government institutions must continue strengthening professional disaster response and transparent aid distribution, while communities can complement those efforts through voluntary action.
In the end, the most meaningful measure of solidarity may not be the size of a donation. It is the willingness to help someone who is far away, simply because their suffering is understood as a shared human concern.
That is the message now emerging from Papua: when Flores needs help, communities thousands of kilometers away are willing to stand beside it.