ACT News Update

Indonesia 0106

ACT members respond to landslides in Indonesia

Geneva, January 6, 2006--Members of Action by Churches Together (ACT) International in Indonesia are assisting survivors of the massive mud slides on the island of Java that have so far killed 120 people. Torrential rains in the last several days have caused landslides in Central and East Java, burying villages and washing houses away. Damaged roads and bridges from the landslides have hampered access to affected people, many of whom have fled to seek refuge in relatives’ homes or in public buildings.

Staff of Church World Service Indonesia (CWS) are conducting rapid-needs assessments in the affected areas. CWS expects to distribute such items as blankets and health kits, as well as emergency food and water aid. In addition, Church World Service’s headquarters in New York City is sending a $5,000 rapid response grant to its Indonesia program.

Based on preliminary assessments of its team members in East Java and Central Java, YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU) will provide an immediate response using its own emergency funds. With the network in Jember (East Java) that includes Oxfam Great Britain, local volunteers, a local environmental non-governmental organization and government bodies, YEU will be part of a brief distribution of hygiene kits and will assess sanitation needs.

The YEU team of a nurse and a community organizer reported that aid such as food items has come from the communities and government, but blankets are still needed. The local hospital and community health center are meeting medical needs for some who have been forced from their homes.

YEU will also respond similarly in Banjarnegara (Central Java), where YEU, together with the health team of YAKKUM’s hospital and its community development unit there, will focus on emergency assistance. At the same time, YEU will also examine the area’s preparedness for disasters and potential for capacity building because of the area’s high risk for natural disasters as well as the community and government initiatives that are already in place.

For the time being, ACT members in Indonesia are not requesting any additional funds from the ACT alliance or Rapid Response Funds from the ACT Coordinating Office in Geneva.