Mentawai and Merapi Disaster Appeal

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Indonesia’s Mount Merapi erupted three times on Tuesday 27 October, emitting searing clouds and volcanic ash leading to authorities declaring a red alert for a radius of 10 kilometres and resulting in over 70,000 people  evacuating.

On the island of Mentawai, West Sumatra, more than 431 people are dead and than 88 are missing after a 7.7 earthquake struck Monday 25 October at 9:42 pm.  Eyewitnesses reported seeing tsunami waves hit village areas. The tsunami flooded the local market and damaged food stock, which will impact peoples’ access to food in the coming months.

Rev. Kuntadi SumadikaryaRev. Kuntadi Sumadikarya (Moderator of the Indonesian Christian Church and GKI Humanitarian) has requested the support of the Uniting Church in Australia as the church seeks to provide much needed medical assistance as a result of the recent Mount Merapi eruption and the earthquake off Mentawai, West Sumatra.

As a result UnitingWorld has launched the Mentawai and Merapi Disaster Appeal.

“On Thursday 28 October 2010, I conducted a briefing at GKI West Java headquarters to local volunteer medical staff heading to Mentawai Islands. There they are working together with the GKPM (Christian Protestant Church of Mentawai) in Mentawai and Padang areas with a focus on villages which are receiving help from other agencies. We are preparing the second team to Mentawai,” said Rev. Kuntadi.

After the eruption of Mouunt Merapi, on Thursday 28 October 2010 GKI Humanitarian in Magelang and Yogyakarta (Central Java) started packing food and distributing packages directly to refugees and disaster victims. An assessment of the refugee camps in three villages in Megeland revealed that the health services and logistics were insufficient. A medical team of 10 doctors from Faculty of Medicine of the Krida Wacana Christian University (Ukrida) Jakarta joined GKI Humanitarian on Saturday 30 October 2010.

Rev. Kuntadi reports that in Yogyakarta, Gki is distributing food and offering medical help in four areas and volunteers went door to door to people’s houses with the help of locals.

“We are preparing a special plan if Merapi erupts again even more dangerously, as predicted by Meteorology and Geo-physics agency,” said Rev. Kuntadi.

UnitingWorld’s appeal will support the medical teams in transportation, supplies and logistics.


UPDATE 8TH NOVEMBER: Mount Merapi erupted again on Friday 5th November. The death toll has now increased to over 130 people, with an estimated 300,000 people displaced. The exclusion zone has been spread to 20 kilometres, however the devatsation covers hundreds of sqaure kilometres of surrounding countryside.

GKI, UnitingWorld’s partner in the region, has been able to capture images of emergency relief in action. Please see galleries below.


UPDATE 10TH NOVEMBER: The latest death toll figures from the Mount Merapi volcanic explosions stand at over 150 people. While the destruction from the Mentawai Island tsunami is reported to have left 428 dead, and 15,000 homeless.

UnitingWorld has received updates from our partner GKI, informing us that appeal funds will be used for a variety of emergency relief operations including transportation; medicine; foods and cooking equipment; shelter building and sleeping equipment; basic hygeine resources; and other humanitarian assistance eqipment.


UPDATE 18th NOVEMBER: The death toll from the Mount Merapi eruptions now stands at over 250; with nearly 400,000 still displaced.

In Mentawai, following the food, clothing and medical assistance, GKI Humanitarian has begun to build a house for children who have lost their parents in the tsunami. This orphanage will run by  Christian Protestant Church of Mentawai (GKPM), the local church.

Near Mount Merapi, GKI Humanitarian has built shelters for refugees in their coordination posts who completely lost their home following the eruptions.


UPDATE 1ST DECEMBER: GKI Humanitarian is grateful for the assistance of their partners around the world who have contributed to their efforts in aiding those affected by the recent natural disasters in Indonesia.

In the Mentawai Islands, The toll of the earthquake and tsunami has risen with over 400 dead, nearly 300 still missing and 10,000 left homeless. GKI has focused on the many hamlets and communities who are only accessible by boat. Logistical assistance in the form of food, clothing and household supplies have been distributed throughout the area via a local who has loaned his boat to GKI.

Near Mount Merapi GKI is serving approximately 7,500-10,000 refugees in four stations outside of the safety zone. They offer spiritual support with church services being held; as well as practical support with food and medicine.

For those returning to their homes as the danger subsides GKI offers assistance in returning hone and beginning the job of reconstruction of houses and livelihoods.

In the last twenty-four hours, the situation has become further complicated by heavy storms, resulting in flooding in the area. Volcanic mud sludge from the mountain has also begun to flow into the nearby rivers placing even more communities at risk.

UPDATE JULY 2011: To download and read updated information on the relief effort from Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, click here.

Click here to read the full statement from GKI Humanitarian


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Donations can also be made by calling 1800 998 122 or by mail PO Box A2266 Sydney South 1235 -

Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible.

Click here to download and read the appeal statement.


Merapi GKI Team Images (November 5-9, 2010)

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Initial GKI Merapi and Muntawai Images

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Mentawai – Jusup Sukatendel

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