THE CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM
CWS SITUATION REPORT: INDONESIA EARTHQUAKE AND LANDSLIDES
March 7, 2007


SITUATION: Residents in West Sumatra, Indonesia, are in mourning today 
as they bury the dead following a pair of earthquakes that killed an 
estimated 72 persons on Tuesday (March 6).  Officials believe that 
figure is likely to rise, as figures are reported from remote rural 
figures. It is believed that many people remain trapped under hundreds 
of collapsed buildings.

The pair of quakes -- one of 6.4 magnitude and another measuring 6.3 -- 
were centered about eight miles south-west of Batusangkar, West Sumatra 
and were felt as far away as Singapore and Malaysia.

The worst-hit areas were in and around Solok, where at least 19 persons 
died; Tanah Datar, where 16 persons died; and Padangpanjang, which was 
cut off because roads were covered with landslides.

Hundreds of people were injured, overwhelming local hospitals and health 
facilities. Many of survivors were being treated under temporary tents.

This follows another disaster: after five days of heavy rain -- in the 
midst of Indonesia's rainy season -- landslides hit Manggarai and Ruteng 
in Musa Tenggara Timur Province, about 900 miles east of Jakarta, on 
March 2. At least 40 persons were killed and 30 are still missing. 
Dozens of houses were destroyed and roads to the disaster site were cut 
off. Landslides are becoming increasingly common in Indonesia due to 
deforestation, humanitarian officials said.


RESPONSE: Church World Service will be providing relief items to those 
who survived the West Sumatra quake as part of a coordinated effort by 
Action by Churches Together (ACT) International members in Indonesia. 
Besides CWS, this includes Yayasan Tanggul Bencana Indonesia (YTBI) and 
Yakkum Emergency Unit (YEU). This joint effort will include medical 
assistance as well as distribution of relief items.

As for the landslides, CWS is working with YTBI and YEU, as well, on a 
joint effort that also includes relief assistance. In this response, CWS 
and other ACT members are working with the East Christian Testament 
Church (GMIT).

This is the fourth major response for CWS in as many weeks, with CWS and 
partners responding to flooding in Jakarta and storm damage in 
Yogyakarta, in central Java, the site of a May 2006 earthquake.

Further information on the situation and response in Indonesia is 
expected later this week.

For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is 
responding please visit www.churchworldservice.org or call the CWS 
Hotline, (800) 297-1516 .

CWS Emergency Response Program special contacts: (212) 870-3151
Program Director: donnajderr@churchworldservice.org
International: flumeya@churchworldservice.org
Domestic: lreedbrown@churchworldservice.org

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