Christian Aid and CAFOD respond to Indonesia tragedy

-28/05/06

Christian Aid, the UK ch


Christian Aid and CAFOD respond to Indonesia tragedy

-28/05/06

Christian Aid, the UK churches aid agency, has announced that it is channelling donations for the Indonesian earthquake (which is now estimated to have claimed 4,000 lives and made 200,000 homeless) to its partners in ACT international.

ACT is an ecumenical aid network, and its regular collaborators on the ground in Java are Yakkum Emergency Unit (YEU), Yayasan Tanggul Benkana di Indonesia (YTBI) – both Indonesian church organisations – and Church World Service Indonesia.

As with the tsunami, the three groups have responded fast and will also be involved in long-term recovery and development. YTBI has sent two staff members from Jakarta to coordinate the distribution of food and medicine.

Meanwhile CWS has sent three staff members to the affected area; two of them are doing assessments in Bantul and are preparing for the distribution of both food and non-food items.

The YEU team, which is on standby in Kemalang, Klaten, is evacuating injured children to Tegalyoso hospital in Klaten.

CAFOD, the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development, has just sent an emergency grant to assist those hit by the earthquake in Yogyakarta.

Their local partner, Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS), is already working in the affected areas, providing tents, food and blankets to those made homeless by the earthquake. JRS has been in the area for several years and has an office in Yogyakarta.

Many of those in the JRS emergency teams have also been affected by the quake, with staff houses damaged. The Jesuit organisation was able to respond immediately because it had stockpiled supplies in the event that Mount Merapi erupted, which it is now distributing.

The initial grant to JRS is £25,000, but CAFOD says it expects to give more to its relief effort over the next few days. The agency, the relief arm of the Catholic Bishops in England and Wales, has two staff members on their way to the region to support the work of JRS if needed.

The United States agency Catholic Relief Services is also fully involved, along with Protestant development groups.

CAFOD head of media Fiona Callister said yesterday: ìOur partners know that they can count on CAFODís support in times of crisis so they are able to start an immediate emergency response.î

Donations can be made to Christian Aid and CAFOD.

[Also on Ekklesia: Churches respond immediately to Indonesia earthquake 27/05/06; Churches manage to ship supplies to earthquake zone; Tsunami: justice as well as relief needed, say Christians; Rebuilding in Indonesia a year on from the tsunami; Earthquake has increased fears say Christian workers; Imposition of Shariah on non-Muslims proposed in Aceh 27/05/06; Muslims offer to guard Christian churches in Indonesia; BBC to examine beheadings of Christian schoolgirls; Indonesian president in call for religious tolerance; Indonesian Muslims say violence is sin and heresy; Indonesian Christians in fear after attacks and beheadings; Catholic agency arranging aid to earthquake zone; Church agency condemns Indonesian human rights decision]


Christian Aid and CAFOD respond to Indonesia tragedy

-28/05/06

Christian Aid, the UK churches aid agency, has announced that it is channelling donations for the Indonesian earthquake (which is now estimated to have claimed 4,000 lives and made 200,000 homeless) to its partners in ACT international.

ACT is an ecumenical aid network, and its regular collaborators on the ground in Java are Yakkum Emergency Unit (YEU), Yayasan Tanggul Benkana di Indonesia (YTBI) – both Indonesian church organisations – and Church World Service Indonesia.

As with the tsunami, the three groups have responded fast and will also be involved in long-term recovery and development. YTBI has sent two staff members from Jakarta to coordinate the distribution of food and medicine.

Meanwhile CWS has sent three staff members to the affected area; two of them are doing assessments in Bantul and are preparing for the distribution of both food and non-food items.

The YEU team, which is on standby in Kemalang, Klaten, is evacuating injured children to Tegalyoso hospital in Klaten.

CAFOD, the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development, has just sent an emergency grant to assist those hit by the earthquake in Yogyakarta.

Their local partner, Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS), is already working in the affected areas, providing tents, food and blankets to those made homeless by the earthquake. JRS has been in the area for several years and has an office in Yogyakarta.

Many of those in the JRS emergency teams have also been affected by the quake, with staff houses damaged. The Jesuit organisation was able to respond immediately because it had stockpiled supplies in the event that Mount Merapi erupted, which it is now distributing.

The initial grant to JRS is £25,000, but CAFOD says it expects to give more to its relief effort over the next few days. The agency, the relief arm of the Catholic Bishops in England and Wales, has two staff members on their way to the region to support the work of JRS if needed.

The United States agency Catholic Relief Services is also fully involved, along with Protestant development groups.

CAFOD head of media Fiona Callister said yesterday: ìOur partners know that they can count on CAFODís support in times of crisis so they are able to start an immediate emergency response.î

Donations can be made to Christian Aid and CAFOD.

[Also on Ekklesia: Churches respond immediately to Indonesia earthquake 27/05/06; Churches manage to ship supplies to earthquake zone; Tsunami: justice as well as relief needed, say Christians; Rebuilding in Indonesia a year on from the tsunami; Earthquake has increased fears say Christian workers; Imposition of Shariah on non-Muslims proposed in Aceh 27/05/06; Muslims offer to guard Christian churches in Indonesia; BBC to examine beheadings of Christian schoolgirls; Indonesian president in call for religious tolerance; Indonesian Muslims say violence is sin and heresy; Indonesian Christians in fear after attacks and beheadings; Catholic agency arranging aid to earthquake zone; Church agency condemns Indonesian human rights decision]