CWS appeal: Sumatra earthquake

The 8.4-magnitude earthquake that struck off the Indonesian coast on September 12 killed 25 people, injured 100 and damaged an estimated 88,000 homes. Around 18,000 homes were totally destroyed, as were 2,000 school buildings, 620 medical facilities and at least one hospital. Indonesia's National Coordination Board for the Disaster Management (BAKORNAS PB) reported the earthquake impacted three provinces in Sumatra: Bengkulu, West Sumatra, and Jambi.

Most displaced people have returned home, but due to the extensive damage to shelter, many quake survivors are setting up makeshift huts made from cardboard boxes, wood and branches, plastic sheets and any other available material. Some remote areas, particularly in the Mentawai islands, have yet to receive adequate humanitarian assistance. Access to the affected communities is severely hampered as the villages are dispersed over many islands and a large area, while transportation is difficult as the number of available boats is limited.

Indonesia's national planning agency estimates damage to total US$164 million.

CWS RESPONSE

With local staff throughout Indonesia, Church World Service responded quickly after the earthquake struck by sending an initial assessment team. With emergency response funding from CWS, it has been possible to distribute plastic mats, ropes and tarpaulins to 1,891 earthquake-affected people in nine villages in Lunang Silaut, Pancung Soal, Lengayang and Lubuk Pinang sub-districts, in the district of Pesisir Selatan, West Sumatra province.

A CWS team, together with the Protestant Church of Mentawai, has also conducted a rapid assessment on Siberut and Sipora islands, in the Mentawai Islands district. The assessment results show that in the Mentawai islands, there are around 20,000 people who are internally displaced and in urgent need of emergency shelter and medical assistance.

Shelter: CWS and other Action by Churches Together partners plan to distribute 1,506 shelter kits containing a 4 x 5 meter tarpaulin, galvanized support pipe, ropes, poles, a tent bag for storage, as well as another tarpaulin for the floor.

Medical assistance: Together with ACT partner YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU, or Christian Foundation for Public Health) CWS will support distribution of health equipment, disaster preparedness programs and psychological support.

Medical equipment will be distributed in 10 local health centers in Batiknau, two local health centers in Putri Hijau and two local health centers in Ketahun. The basic equipment for clinical examination consists of :

• Baby and children health status monitoring devices
• Minor surgery kit
• Stethoscope
• Sphygmomanometer
• Thermometer