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Released 22 October 2009
The
Salvation Army in Indonesia continues to provide emergency assistance and medical services to people
affected by the earthquake in West Sumatra.
Having focused attention and established a presence in the Pangang Pariaman
sector, the Army is seeing an average of 200 patients each day in a makeshift
medical tent, the only service available for miles. In addition, 1,000 tents,
2,000 blankets and 5,000 packets of milk powder were distributed in the first
days of the crisis.
Within
hours of the quake a container-load of medical and emergency supplies was
dispatched from Jakarta to the city of
Padang. In
cooperation
with local government officials and community leaders, the Salvation Army team
quickly identified a location to begin the arduous task of surveying
communities and distributing aid to the most vulnerable.
A
professional medical team fulfilled a need as people suffering from injuries
and upper respiratory infections streamed into the medical tent. One community
leader exclaimed: 'We thank Allah for The Salvation Army. No other organization
has come to assist us.'
Nearly
every house in the area has some damage and most are completely destroyed.
Entire communities have been flattened and several have been completely covered
by subsequent landslides.
It is
estimated that around 90,000 families remain homeless two weeks after the
quake, which measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. Despite the daunting numbers,
members of The Salvation Army’s 'Compassion in Action' team – made
up of 11
staff and volunteers from the Indonesia Territory – remain strident in
their
resolve to offer the best service possible.