Strong Quake Rocks Indonesia, Thousands Killed

Sunday, May 28, A.D. 2006

The death toll from Saturday's devastating earthquake on the Indonesian island of Java has now topped 4,300. Thousands more have been injured and more than 200,000 left homeless in the aftermath of the worst disaster to strike Indonesia since the December 26, 2004, tsunami killed 130,000 people in Aceh province. Heavy rains and aftershocks are now adding to the misery and fear of quake survivors.

The three Action by Churches Together (ACT) members in Indonesia (including Church World Service) are already responding. Staff members from CWS were already in the region responding to evacuees from the Merapi volcano. They have distributed blankets to the Bethesda hospital and have arranged to transport tents, hygiene kits, health kits and baby kits from the CWS field office in Medan. Food packages and water are being distributed today (Sunday). The three ACT partners are coordinating their responses and will present an appeal to the ACT alliance in the next few days.

Week of Compassion is now preparing an immediate grant in response to an appeal from Global Ministries' Southern Asia Office to support the relief efforts of local churches in the area through the Communion of Churches in Indonesia and Duta Wacana University in Yogyakarta, long-time Disciples partners in the country. WOC is also gathering resources to ensure a strong Disciples response to the upcoming ACT/CWS appeal. Designated contributions for the quake are welcome and can be sent to WOC, attn: Elaine Cleveland, P.O. Box 1986, Indpls, IN 46206 or made online via the WOC website: www.weekofcompassion.org. All gifts will be used in their entirety for quake relief and recovery.

WOC will continue to issue updates on the quake and post stories, photos and other information from the region on the WOC website.

"Gift of the Heart" Kits Needed

The Indonesian quake is also a good reminder of the recent emergency appeal from CWS to its member communions for help in replenishing its supply of "Gift of the Heart" Kits. Especially needeed are School and Baby Kits and Emergency Cleanup Buckets. Content information, along with packaging and shipping instructions, can be accessed from the WOC website: www.weekofcompassion.org. Click on "Resources" and look for "Gift of the Heart" Kits under Hands-On Outreach Projects.