Three deadly natural disasters hit Indonesia in the month of October 2010. On October 4, a flash flood ravaged Wasior village in West Papua. The tsunami-like waters over 3 feet high washed away homes, leaving 144 dead, 123 missing and thousands displaced and injured.

This week, on Monday, October 25, 2010, at  9.42 p.m. Western Indonesian time, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the Western coast of North Sumatra near the Mentawai Islands, triggering a 10-foot tsunami that wiped out over 20 villages and displaced more than 20,000 people. Hundreds are missing after fleeing from the killer wave. Disaster officials estimate the dead at over 300 so far and climbing. These being remote areas, communication is a major challenge. Actual figures are likely higher.

Hours later, 800 miles east in central Java, Mount Merapi, Indonesia’s most volatile volcano, erupted early Tuesday morning. Some 40,000 people have been evacuated. Officials are still counting the numbers dead. Many of the area’s residents are in hospitals with burns and respiratory problems. The blast eased pressure behind a lava dome perched on the crater; still, experts are warning that the dome could collapse, resulting in an avalanche of blistering gas and debris.

Both the quake, felt in the surrounding areas of Padang, & volcanic eruption occurred along fault lines in the Pacific Rim of Fire, stretching from the Western Hemisphere to Japan and Southeast Asia – the same series that produced the devastating 9.3 magnitude earthquake & tsunami in 2004 that took over 230,000 lives as the massive waves swept out to a dozen countries.

Damage wreaked by the destruction, as well as inclement weather, have seriously hampered rescue and relief efforts. Many are crowded in makeshift emergency tents. Health, hygiene and nutrition are health officials’ biggest concerns. They fear an outbreak of disease and further deaths.

We, at CERDAS, are mobilizing efforts to provide support and relief to those impacted by the  disasters and collecting funds for distribution to those in need. CERDAS is collaborating with other Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) with access to the affected areas to bring timely and effective relief to the victims.

We are accepting donations until Sunday, November 7, 2010. Please send your contribution today. Every little bit helps.

You can conveniently make your donation through PayPal (be aware that PayPal takes 2-4% of your donation). Please visit our website at: www.cerdasfoundation.org and select “Donation”, and mention in your payment that you are contributing to the Wasior/Mentawai/Merapi Disaster Appeal.

You can also send a check made out to CERDAS Foundation – please make a note specifying that the donation is for the Wasior/Mentawai/Merapi Disaster Appeal – to:

CERDAS Foundation
4059 NE 55th St
Seattle WA 98105

On behalf of the victims of these calamities, we sincerely thank you.

CERDAS Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Tax ID# 26-1640702