The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has escalated emergency operations to help thousands of Indonesians affected by the massive earthquake that struck the country on Monday, November 21.
The 5.6 magnitude earthquake shook Indonesia’s West Java province and four other districts, killing at least 268 people, injuring over 1000, and displacing nearly 60,000 families, children and individual citizens.
According to local officials, the death toll may rise as a result of numerous reports of victims still trapped beneath the rubble, with more than 150 people reported missing.
“ADRA is already on the ground, working with the local government, other trusted partners, and churches to quickly assess the situation. ADRA emergency response teams are being deployed to the hardest hit areas to identify and assist vulnerable families and individuals. Our country office will begin distributing shelter kits so that community members can construct or improve emergency tents near their homes. ADRA also plans to launch a safety and security education campaign to inform families about the risks of aftershocks and landslides,” said ADRA International senior emergency program manager Elizabeth Tomenko.
According to disaster reports, the powerful quake and aftershocks damaged nearly 3,000 houses, as well as dozens of schools, government offices, and places of worship.
ADRA development and disaster response projects have been serving the Indonesian community for more than 30 years. ADRA Australia is accepting donations to go towards supporting those who have most been affected by the catastrophe. To learn more about ADRA’s response and to donate, visit www.adra.org.au/disaster.
