RCWS Sends Relief Supplies to Devastated Indonesia
A powerful earthquake rocked Indonesia's island of Sumatra on September 30, striking near the provincial capital, Padang, a city of 900,000 people. A day later, a second earthquake struck. The quakes measured 7.6 and 6.8 on the Richter scale.
The United Nations estimates that more than one thousand people have perished in the quake. The number is expected to rise in coming days as the rubble is cleared and a more accurate count of those missing is compiled. Overworked rescuers continue to frantically search through the rubble of schools and other buildings.
"We have pulled out 38 children since the quake," said rescue team leader Suria. "Some of them on the first day were alive, but the last few have all been dead."
Government officials have warned that the extent of the damage for the quake could be as bad as that caused by a 2006 earthquake in Yogyakarta, Java, which killed 5,000 people and damaged 150,000 homes.
RCWS Response
Reformed Church World Service is responding to this crisis with its partner, Church World Service, which has permanent staff in Padang. CWS responded immediately, sending two truckloads of relief items from its warehouse to the affected area. Early distribution included plastic mats, tarpaulins, family tents, relief kits, baby care kits, and a warehouse-sized tent.
Reformed Church World Service has sent an initial gift of $7,000 to assist with the provision of care kits. We will support additional appeals from CWS as needs are prioritized and additional funding is received.
How You Can Help- Pray for the people of Sumatra, Indonesia, especially for those who have lost loved ones or their homes. Pray also for Church World Service staff in Indonesia and for the many rescue workers who are working at the edge of exhaustion.
 - Give to provide food, temporary shelter, and medical supplies that will be so desperately needed in the coming days. Send contributions, designated "Indonesia Earthquake 2009" to Reformed Church in America, P.O. Box 19381, Newark, NJ 07195-1938 or, in Canada, to Regional Synod of Canada, 201 Paradise Road N., Hamilton, ON L8S 3T3. To donate by credit card, click the "Make a Donation" button, or call the RCA Michigan Regional Center at (800) 968-3943.
Posted 10/02/09
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