Title: Lutherans Support Earthquake Recovery Efforts in Indonesia ELCA NEWS SERVICE
May 30, 2006
Lutherans Support Earthquake Recovery Efforts in Indonesia 06-073-MRC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- International Disaster Response of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is providing an initial $50,000 to support relief efforts in central Indonesia, after an earthquake struck May 27 on the island of Java. The earthquake killed about 5,700 people, injured 20,000 others and left 200,000 homeless. Driving rain has made living conditions worse for survivors of the earthquake.
ELCA funds were sent to Action by Churches Together (ACT), which issued an appeal for funds May 29. Members of ACT "quickly mobilized their staff and resources to address the critical needs of earthquake survivors," according to an ACT news release.
The ELCA is a member of ACT -- a worldwide network of churches and related agencies that meets human need through organized emergency response. It is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), both in Geneva, Switzerland. The ELCA is a member of the WCC and LWF.
Coordinated by ELCA Global Mission, International Disaster Response channels its funds through international church organizations and relief agencies. Funds provide for food, medicine, drinking water, emergency shelter and other materials for survivors of disasters.
The ELCA "has received reports from the YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU)," said the Rev. Joseph Chu, program director for Asia and the Pacific, ELCA Global Mission. The YEU began providing emergency medical services to hundreds of earthquake survivors, he said, adding that the YEU has been one of the first responders in working with survivors, along with Church World Service (CWS) and the Yayasan Tanggul Bencana Indonesia (YTBI). CWS, YEU and YTBI are members of ACT working in Indonesia. These organizations and others will continue to provide housing and psycho-social rehabilitation for survivors in the long-term.
The earthquake was the third major tremor to devastate Indonesia in the past 18 months, said the Rev. Y. Franklin Ishida, director for international leadership development, ELCA Global Mission. The worst tremor was the earthquake that struck the Indian Ocean Dec. 26, 2004, which resulted into a tsunami that left some 170,000 people dead or missing in northern Sumatra, he said.
Relief and rescue crews and medical teams raced to help the survivors of this past weekend's strong earthquake, reported Ishida. The relief and medical teams had been in Indonesia, "geared up to provide relief from a major volcano eruption and (continued) disaster response after the tsunami," said Ishida. The greatest needs now are medical supplies and shelter, he said. An estimated 35,000 homes and buildings were destroyed.
The epicenter of the earthquake was 16 miles southwest of Jogjakarta (also known as Yogyakarta), which is near the erupting volcano Mount Merapi. The earthquake was thought not to be caused by the volcano, but there are reports of heightened activity in the vicinity. The volcano, which threatened to erupt earlier this month, had already forced thousands of people to evacuate, said Ishida. Jogjakarta is Indonesia's ancient royal capital and one of Indonesia's largest cities. It is located southeast of the capital, Jarkarta.
According to Rosella Kameo, ELCA Global Mission, serving near Jogjakarta, the earthquake "damage has been extensive with local television showing scenes even more horrendous than CNN or BBC."
"We are less than two hours by road from Jogja," said Kameo. "I was in the process of sending email when the monitor suddenly went black and the desk shifted from side to side. We heard a low rumbling noise, like distant underground explosions. The roof creaked and groaned a bit, the windows rattled, and several sets of hanging chimes all started swaying back and forth and ringing. I was the only one up at 5:54 a.m. The others were all shaken awake, and the four of us ran outside into the yard," she said.
Lutheran World Relief commits an initial $25,000 for earthquake relief work
Lutheran World Relief (LWR) committed an initial $25,000 May 28 to support earthquake relief efforts in Indonesia. The funds are being channeled through ACT. LWR, Baltimore, is an overseas relief and development ministry of the ELCA and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. It is a member of ACT.
According to Elhadi Abdalla, LWR's country representative in Indonesia, hospitals there are overwhelmed with injured survivors, and many people are still sleeping on the streets -- even those whose homes survived the earthquake. There are still occasional aftershocks, and people are afraid to go back inside, said Abdalla, adding that the rainy season is about to begin, which will complicate relief efforts. - - - INTERNATIONAL DISASTERS: Editors: When listing organizations receiving funds for aid to survivors of major disasters outside the United States, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, please include: ELCA International Disaster Response, PO Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60694-1764, 1-800-638-3522 and http://www.ELCA.org/disaster/idrgive on the Internet.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog