Bali's Mt. Agung Eruption Relief
In 2017, Mount Agung erupted, forcing tens of thousands of Balinese families to flee their homes. There were several eruptions going until 2019. Families were suddenly without shelter, food, clean water, and medical support. Among them were vulnerable groups such as pregnant mothers, newborns, and the elderly — people who faced heightened risks in evacuation camps.
After one strombolian explosion in July 2018 that displaced 700 people, Bumi Sehat quickly mobilized to respond, supported by funds raised through Earth Company. An emergency fundraising campaign, originally aiming for US$5,000, surpassed expectations and raised US$7,200 from 41 donors, enabling Bumi Sehat to accommodate evacuees at the Bali Clinic. The fund also enabled Bumi Sehat conducting community outreach and medical missions, bringing doctors, midwives, and nurses to evacuation camps.
Through these relief efforts, Bumi Sehat not only alleviated immediate suffering but also restored hope. By centering care on the most vulnerable, particularly mothers and children, the organization ensured that families displaced by Mount Agung’s eruptions found safety, protection, and love during one of Bali’s most challenging humanitarian crises.
At a Glance
Ibu Robin Lim is a Filipino–American midwife, mother, grandmother, and founder of Yayasan Bumi Sehat, a nonprofit organization that provides free maternity care for pregnant women, mothers and their babies, plus healthcare for all those in need.
Born in the Philippines in 1956, Robin decided to become a midwife in 1991, when her sister and niece tragically died during childbirth. She qualified as a midwife in the United States and Indonesia, and founded the Bumi Sehat Foundation International in Bali, Indonesia. To date, she has birthed over 9,000 babies and is known by locals and international fans alike as “Ibu Robin” (Mother Robin). Bumi Sehat (which translates to “healthy mother earth”) operates clinics in Bali, Sumatra Island Aceh, Papua and the Philippines, as well as temporary clinics in disaster areas around the world such as Haiti and Nepal. Through the foundation, Robin trains and inspires more than 6,000 midwives and nurses per year, and over 300,000 people have benefitted from Bumi Sehat’s services to date.
Sheltering the Most Vulnerable
With the fund, Bumi Sehat accommodated 128 evacuees at the Bali Clinic. Prioritizing pregnant women and their families, Bumi Sehat ensured that no mother was separated from her loved ones during such a vulnerable time. Many women safely delivered their babies at the clinic and continued to shelter there, grateful for care and stability in Nyuh Kuning village, 30 kilometers away from the volcano’s summit.
Extending Care Beyond the Clinic
Relief efforts extended far beyond the clinic as Bumi Sehat conducted community outreach and medical missions, bringing doctors, midwives, and nurses to evacuation camps. Families living in difficult conditions, who often sleeping on cement floors, received mattresses, sheets, pillows, towels, and mosquito nets. In addition, families were provided with food, clean water, solar lights, and hygiene kits, helping them stay healthy and safe during the long evacuations.
Bumi Sehat also distributed more than 10,000 N95 masks to protect evacuees, especially children, from volcanic ash and gases. Educational videos on hygiene and mask use were developed and shared to prepare families in case of larger eruptions. All care — from medical diagnosis and treatment to essential supplies — was given freely, with compassion and dignity.
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