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.
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 were missing after fleeing from the killer wave. Disaster officials estimate the dead at over 300. These being remote areas, communication is a major challenge.
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. Many of the area’s residents were in hospitals with burns and respiratory problems. The blast resulting in an avalanche of blistering gas and debris.
Damage wreaked by the destruction, as well as inclement weather, have seriously hampered rescue and relief efforts. Many were crowded in makeshift emergency tents. Health, hygiene and nutrition were health officials’ biggest concerns. They fear an outbreak of disease and further deaths.
To provide aid to those who were impacted by these disasters, CERDAS sent out an urgent appeal for help and received a generous responses. We were able to raise $5,645 with donations coming in from all across the United States. The money was then sent to Indonesia where it was distributed to those in need. The funds for the Wasior region was handled by Romo Y. Rumanto, a pastor in the region; the Mentawai region was handled by the Indonesian Red Cross, Mentawai branch; and the Merapi region was handled by hoshiZora.org.
Program Information
Status Program: Finished.
Program Funding: $5,645.
Program Partner: Romo Y. Rumanto for Wasior-West Papua, Indonesian Red Cross for Mentawai-West Sumatra, Hoshizora for Merapi – Central Java
