In October 2010, Mount Merapi (mountain of fire) awoke with a series of small eruptions. A much larger eruption (the worst since 1870) occurred on 5 November 2010. Thick ash, sand and gravel hit the nearby cities of Yogyakarta, Magelang, Purworejo, Solo and Klaten. After almost three weeks of eruptions, more than 365,000 people were forced to evacuate. The devastation covered many hundreds of square kilometers of surrounding countryside, where ash as fine as cement powder has created a filthy gray wasteland. More than 638 evacuation centers were set up in tents, village halls, school buildings and sport stadiums.
ACT members in Indonesia all responded immediately: Church World Service Indonesia (CWSI) supported local partners with baby kits, hygiene kits, plastic mats, blankets and psychosocial support. Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) supported its local partner with food, hygiene kits, blankets and floor mats. Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) supported its partners in managing displacement points, providing health services and psychological support, as well as with cooked food, potable water, mats, blankets, baby food, hygiene kits, masks and cooking utensils. YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU) provided mobile medical services, psychosocial services, food and non food items and emergency toilets. Yayasan Tanggul Benkana Indonesia (YTBI) sent baby packages, biscuits, drinking water, sanitary napkins, masks and food through its partner.
This full appeal is being issued to request support to the proposed responses of YEU and YTBI only. The other ACT members in Indonesia (CWSI, DKH and CRWRC) will not be included in this full appeal as they have been supporting partners bilaterally with their own funds.