On the 28th May 2006, Christians from around the world were responding to the pleas of help from the residents of Indonesia's royal city of Yogyakarta as the death toll surpassed more than 3,000 people, reported Reuters. As Christians begun to mobilise aid relief, the Church World Services (CWS) reported the earthquake struck the Central Java province at 6 A.M. local time where thousands of home and public infrastructures were damaged.
Christians were responding to the relief by distributing supplies to the Indonesian people who lived in the earthquake devastated area.
World Vision planned to distribute essential non-food items-including blankets, tarps for shelter, and clothing-to provide immediate aid to affected children and families. Medical supplies would also be distributed to assist the wounded and support the overwhelmed local hospitals.
The initial truckload of relief supplies were expected to arrive in hard- hit Yogyakarta Sunday morning, local time. World Vision relief staffs had flown to the area to assess the extent of the need, and would help distribute the emergency goods to survivors.
CWS had provided 2,280 bottles of water and 80 blankets to Bethesda Hospital, in Yogyakarta, which was receiving many of the injured. CWS was assessing immediate needs in Bantul, and was beginning the distribution of food and non-food items.
CWS local partner Yakkum Emergency Unit was evacuating injured children to Tegalyoso hospital in Klaten, while partner Yayasan Tanggul Bencana was providing staff to help coordinate the distribution of food and medicine.
On Sunday, CWS distributed 500 food packages of biscuits and noodles, as well as water, in the districts of Bantul. Tents, blankets, CWS health and baby kits, were also expected to be distributed as needed, in the coming days. The CWS office in Medan was preparing to send a number of hygiene and health kits to the affected areas. In addition, CWS and partner Norwegian Church Aid would be assessing and planning for water and sanitation assistance.
Lutheran World Relief partner organisations in Indonesia were already providing emergency food and medical care to survivors. LWR staff and partners in Indonesia were assessing the situation to determine additional response.
Australia would provide a further $2 million in critical humanitarian assistance for survivors of the Yogyakarta earthquake in Indonesia. This brought Australia immediate humanitarian response to $3 million.
[Editor Note: Ramon William contribute to part of this article.]