Indonesia ：Supporting Communities Affected by Floods and Landslides in Sumatra-- Panasonic Gobel Group Provides Humanitarian Assistance --
Due to the heavy rainfall at the end of last year, floods and landslides struck parts of Sumatra, Indonesia, affecting many residents. In the disaster‑affected areas, staying in evacuation center and recovery efforts are still ongoing, and disruptions to daily life continue, including power outages and unstable communication networks. Under these circumstances, securing access to information and lighting is a critical need for residents to live safely and with peace of mind. In response, the eight companies of the Panasonic Gobel Group, in cooperation with the Indonesian Red Cross, provided humanitarian relief supplies in March to support residents in the affected communities.
As part of this assistance, approximately 10,000 Panasonic products, including radios and flashlights equipped with batteries that help secure access to information and lighting, were donated. The total value of the relief supplies amounts to approximately Rp 2.4 billion (around USD 150,000). These items are expected to help ensure safety during power outages and at night, as well as support daily life in evacuation centers. The relief supplies were ceremonially handed over to Mr. Jusuf Kalla, Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross, at the organization's Central Headquarters in Jakarta.
They will then be distributed in stages to affected communities through the Red Cross's nationwide network.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Arif Rachmat Gobel, Director of PT Panasonic Gobel Indonesia, said : "In disaster situations, communities urgently need various forms of support to survive and carry out their daily activities more safely. Access to information and lighting is crucial, especially when electricity and communication networks are disrupted. We hope that these radios and flashlights will help communities stay informed and provide the lighting they need during emergencies."
