3 September 2009
A 7.3 magnitude earthquake damaged scores of buildings in west Java and caused momentary panic when it hit at 1500 local time Wednesday, September 2.
Ivan Tagor, World Vision’s Emergency Relief Specialist had gone to the site to assess the impact of the quake, and will work with local government officials to see how World Vision can help.
Currently, World Vision Indonesia is sending 4,000 packages of family kits worth US $250,000 to support quake victims in hardest-hit areas of Pengalengan and Tasikmalaya in West Java.
“We will distribute 1,500 relief packages in several villages in Pengalengan and another 1,500 packages in Tasikmalaya, while the rest 1,000 packages for children will be distributed to families with children under 5,” said Trihadi Saptoadi, director of World Vision Indonesia. The distribution started on the day the earthquake struck.
“We expect to complete the distribution of all the 4,000 packages by the end of the week,” added Jimmy Nadapdap, World Vision Indonesia’s HEA-Relief Director.
“After an earthquake, homes of many children are damaged or destroyed. It is imperative that they have a safe place for shelter and clothes to keep them warm. Our relief kits contain tarpaulins and plastic sheets, soap, clothing and hygiene products for children under five,” he explained.
“The remaining 3,600 packages will be on the way soon. We will be able to complete the distribution of all the 4,000 packages within this week.”
Jimmy explained that World Vision Indonesia has 2,000 packages of family kits and 1,000 children kits pre-positioned and ready for distribution at the warehouse in Jakarta. “We just need another 1,000 packages.”
World Vision Indonesia is exploring funding support for another 3,000 packages of family kits to be distributed to other badly-affected areas. “We are waiting for more updates from our assessment team,” said relief officer Yacobus Runtuwene.
According to Ivan Tagor, who led a the assessment team to Pengalengan and neighbouring areas after the earthquake struck, several thousands of families spent the night in open air as many of their houses were severely destroyed. “They need blankets, tarpaulins and other basic support,” he said.
The 7.3 magnitude quake brought about a very strong tremor across West Java province and capital city Jakarta, some 250 kilometres northwest of the epicentre, off Tasikmalaya district. People as far as Bali and the southern-part of Sumatra, over 500 kilometres away, could also feel the tremor.
Reports said 44 people have been found dead in the incident and many others still missing. People were still trying to recover bodies from the quake-triggered landslides in Cianjur district in West Java. Hundreds suffer from injuries. The quake also caused damages to over some 18,000 houses.
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