Appeal Target: US$ 209,751

Geneva, 19 October 2007

Dear Colleagues,

On 12 September 2007, a magnitude 8.4 earthquake struck the southwest coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, the epicenter of which was located 105 km off the coast. Several aftershocks were reported, with a magnitude of up to 6.6. Tsunami alerts were issued several times but later cancelled, and although a small (1m) tsunami did occur, it did not cause significant damage.

As of 27 September 2007, the National Coordination Board for the Disaster Management (BAKORNAS PB) reported that the earthquake has impacted three provinces in Sumatra: Bengkulu, West Sumatra, and Jambi. The earthquake killed 25 persons and injured 100 others. The damage to housing and infrastructure is extensive. Almost 88,000 houses have been damaged, of which 18,000 were totally destroyed, about 2,000 educational facilities damaged, of which 260 completely destroyed and 620 health facilities hit, of which 1 hospital destroyed and 128 severely damaged. Most displaced people have returned home, but due to the extensive damage to shelter, many quake survivors are setting up makeshift huts.

The current assistance in Bengkulu and Sumatera Barat comes from the local government, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), local NGOs, the United Nations, as well as some international organizations. The type of assistance is mainly emergency shelter, food and non-food items and health services. However, some remote areas, particularly in the Mentawai islands, have yet to receive adequate humanitarian assistance. Access to the affected communities is severely hampered as the villages are dispersed over many islands and a large area, while transportation is difficult as the number of available boats is limited.

ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.

The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.

ACT members Church World Service (CWS) and Christian Foundation for Public Health) Emergency Unit (YEU) have already responded to the disaster. CWS, after an initial assessment in the affected district , distributed plastic mats, ropes and tarpaulins to 1,891 people in nine villages in West Sumatra province. YEU was actively involved in rescue operations, in needs assessments and provided health centers with health equipment and medicine supply for 5000 patients to the Mentawai and Sipina Islands. CWS plans to provide about 6,200 people with 1,506 shelters on the Sipora island and the Mentawai Islands, in West Sumatra province. YEU intends to provide a) training on health related emergency preparedness for 42 staff of local health centers, 20 heads of villages and officers of the district government and 10 leaders of Muslim and Christian communities; b) basic equipment (surgery kit, stethoscope, sphygmomanometer, thermometer to 10 local health centers in Batiknau, 2 local health centers in Putri Hijau and 2 local health centers in Ketahun; c) health education and information on respiratory infection, diarrhea, dengue fever, and malaria for about 70,000 people and d) training in psychosocial support for 42 health center staff.

Project Completion Date: CWS: 31 January 2008 YEU: 30 April 2008

Reporting schedule:

Reports due ACT CO	CWS	YEU
Interim narrative & financial	n/a	n/a
Final narrative & financial	31 March 2008	30 June 2008
Audit	30 April 2008	31 July 2008

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested:

-	CWS	YEU	Total Target US$
Appeal Targets	109,868	99,883	209,751
Less: Pledges/Contr Recd	0	0	0
Balance Requested from ACT Alliance	109,868	99,883	209,751

Please kindly send your contributions to either of the following ACT bank accounts:

US dollar

Account Number - 240-432629.60A
IBAN No: CH46 0024 0240 4326 2960A

Euro

Euro Bank Account Number - 240-432629.50Z
IBAN No: CH84 0024 0240 4326 2950Z

Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together

UBS AG
8, rue du Rhône
P.O. Box 2600
1211 Geneva 4, SWITZERLAND

Swift address: UBSW CHZH12A

Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (jkg@act-intl.org) and the Programme Officer Michelle Yonetani (myo@act-intl.org), of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

For further information please contact:

Director, John Nduna (phone +41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone + 41 79 203 6055) or ACT Program Officer, Michelle Yonetani (phone +41 22 791 60 35 or mobile +41 79 285 29 16)

ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org

John Nduna
Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office