Communication Strategy Using Da’wah Assembly to Heal Traumatised Natural Disaster Victims in Palu City

Abstract

This article discusses how Asybaalul Khairaat volunteers’ make use of the trauma healing approach via da’wah based communication strategy to tackle traumatised victims of natural disasters in a refugee camp at Palu, Indonesia. Traumatic events of natural disasters leave psychological impacts such as stress, and anxiety. In the study location, trauma healing programs are widely applied during the disaster and recovery process, with interpersonal exchanges used to increase self-motivation. Therefore, da'wah is one of the bases of the trauma healing process, provided by the Asybaalul Khairaat assembly group, which is supported by Alkhairaat scholars, such as HA. This technique aids in distributing and preaching religious values to the refugees in Alkhairaat schools. The purpose of this article, therefore, is to probe and describe the communication strategy of Asybaalul Khairaat volunteers. The qualitative method with a case study approach was used to analyse the data. At the orientation stage, they focused on the field survey, which allowed them to directly meet the victims or refugees and the initial distribution. Furthermore, humanitarian bonds were built with the attitude of positive mutual help which reflects true Islam. This was followed by the distributing of da'wah after the purchase of Islamic symbols. Finally, spontaneity and uniqueness emerged when Asybaalul Khairaat volunteers tried to demonstrate the right form of trauma healing linked to jihad in Islam by directly assisting in humanitarian activities.