7.0 Quake Leaves 28,000 Homeless in Indonesia

By By Eric Young
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Residents walk past the ruins of houses destroyed by an earthquake in Pengalengan, West Java, Indonesia, Friday, Sept. 4, 2009. Dozens of people were killed and missing after a strong earthquake rocked southern Indonesia Wednesday, unleashing mudslides that buried villagers in their homes, disaster management officials said. (Photo: AP Images / Achmad Ibrahim)

Christian relief groups are coming to the aid of the thousands in Indonesia who were affected by the 7.0-magnitude earthquake earlier this week.

Wednesday’s quake, which has so far has resulted in 64 confirmed deaths, flattened or seriously damaged more than 10,000 homes, offices, schools and mosques on the western side of the densely populated island of Java.

The country’s Disaster Management Agency reported Friday that around 28,000 people were in need of shelter, more than 400 injured, and dozens still missing – feared dead.

"They need blankets, tarpaulins and other basic support," reported Ivan Tagor, assessment team leader for relief group World Vision, which has been distributing 4,000 packages of family kits to support quake survivors in hardest-hit Pengalengan and Tasikmalaya areas in West Java.

WV Indonesia expects to complete the distribution of all the 4,000 packages by the end of the week and is appealing for an additional US $500,000 to support the immediate needs of children and their families in the hardest-hit areas.

"This earthquake damaged and destroyed thousands of children's homes," said Jimmy Nadapdap, WV Indonesia's HEA-Relief Director. "It is imperative that those children have a safe place to shelter and clothes to keep them warm."

Also on site distributing aid are international organizations such as Church World Service and Caritas Internationalis as well as local groups Yayasan Tangggul Bencana di Indonesia (YTBI) and Yakkum Emergency Unit (YEU) – members of Action by Churches Together International.

Caritas – a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development and social service groups – is sending blankets, sarongs, hygiene kits, tarpaulins and lamps that will be distributed through local parishes. The organization said Thursday that more help will be provided as a clearer picture of the disaster emerges.

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