ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 7, 2006  

Lutherans Support Earthquake Recovery Efforts in Indonesia
06-079-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- International Disaster Response of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is providing an
initial $50,000 to support relief efforts in central Indonesia,
after an earthquake struck May 27 on the island of Java.  The
earthquake killed about 5,700 people, injured 20,000 others and
left 200,000 homeless.  Driving rain has made living conditions
worse for survivors of the earthquake.
     ELCA funds were sent to Action by Churches Together (ACT),
which issued an appeal for funds May 29.  Members of ACT "quickly
mobilized their staff and resources to address the critical needs
of earthquake survivors," according to an ACT news release.
     The ELCA is a member of ACT -- a worldwide network of
churches and related agencies that meets human need through
organized emergency response.  It is based with the World Council
of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), both
in Geneva, Switzerland.  The ELCA is a member of the WCC and LWF.
     Coordinated by ELCA Global Mission, International Disaster
Response channels its funds through international church
organizations and relief agencies.  Funds provide for food,
medicine, drinking water, emergency shelter and other materials
for survivors of disasters.
     The ELCA "has received reports from the YAKKUM Emergency
Unit (YEU)," said the Rev. Joseph Chu, program director for Asia
and the Pacific, ELCA Global Mission.  The YEU began providing
emergency medical services to hundreds of earthquake survivors,
he said, adding that the YEU has been one of the first responders
in working with survivors, along with Church World Service (CWS)
and the Yayasan Tanggul Bencana Indonesia (YTBI).  CWS, YEU and
YTBI are members of ACT working in Indonesia.  These
organizations and others will continue to provide housing and
psycho-social rehabilitation for survivors in the long-term.
     The earthquake was the third major tremor to devastate
Indonesia in the past 18 months, said the Rev. Y. Franklin
Ishida, director for international leadership development, ELCA
Global Mission.  The worst tremor was the earthquake that struck
the Indian Ocean Dec. 26, 2004, which resulted into a tsunami
that left some 170,000 people dead or missing in northern
Sumatra, he said.
     Relief and rescue crews and medical teams raced to help the
survivors of this past weekend's strong earthquake, reported
Ishida.  The relief and medical teams had been in Indonesia,
"geared up to provide relief from a major volcano eruption and
(continued) disaster response after the tsunami," said Ishida.
The greatest needs now are medical supplies and shelter, he said.
An estimated 35,000 homes and buildings were destroyed.
     The epicenter of the earthquake was 16 miles southwest of
Jogjakarta (also known as Yogyakarta), which is near the erupting
volcano Mount Merapi.  The earthquake was thought not to be
caused by the volcano, but there are reports of heightened
activity in the vicinity.  The volcano, which threatened to erupt
earlier this month, had already forced thousands of people to
evacuate, said Ishida.  Jogjakarta is Indonesia's ancient royal
capital and one of Indonesia's largest cities.  It is located
southeast of the capital, Jarkarta.
     According to Rosella Kameo, ELCA Global Mission, serving
near Jogjakarta, the earthquake "damage has been extensive with
local television showing scenes even more horrendous than CNN or
BBC."
     "We are less than two hours by road from Jogja," said Kameo.
"I was in the process of sending email when the monitor suddenly
went black and the desk shifted from side to side.  We heard a
low rumbling noise, like distant underground explosions.  The
roof creaked and groaned a bit, the windows rattled, and several
sets of hanging chimes all started swaying back and forth and
ringing.  I was the only one up at 5:54 a.m.  The others were all
shaken awake, and the four of us ran outside into the yard," she
said.

Lutheran World Relief commits an initial $25,000 for earthquake
relief work
      Lutheran World Relief (LWR) committed an initial $25,000
May 28 to support earthquake relief efforts in Indonesia.  The
funds are being channeled through ACT.  LWR, Baltimore, is an
overseas relief and development ministry of the ELCA and Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod.  It is a member of ACT.
     According to Elhadi Abdalla, LWR's country representative in
Indonesia, hospitals there are overwhelmed with injured
survivors, and many people are still sleeping on the streets --
even those whose homes survived the earthquake.  There are still
occasional aftershocks, and people are afraid to go back inside,
said Abdalla, adding that the rainy season is about to begin,
which will complicate relief efforts.
- - -
INTERNATIONAL DISASTERS:
Editors:  When listing organizations receiving funds for aid to
survivors of major disasters outside the United States, Puerto
Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, please include:
ELCA International Disaster Response, PO Box 71764, Chicago, IL
60694-1764, 1-800-638-3522 and
http://www.ELCA.org/disaster/idrgive on the Internet.

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John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
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