Update GKI-Humanitarian 1-4 November 2010 (En)

Update Tim Gerakan Kemanusiaan Indonesia (Tim GKI) 1-4 November 2010

Mentawai

1/11/10

1) The medical team from RS PGI Cikini arrived on 30/10/10, stayed and working in the Nemnemleleu – Sikakap, headquarter of GKPM Synod.

2) Following the medical team in 1/11/10 three volunteers lead by Rev. Rasid Rachman has been sent to Sikakap through Padang. They are to prepare visits to remote villages in Pagai Utara and Pagai Selatan on the west coast of Mentawai where the people is in dire need of help and received almost no relief at all.

3) Electronic discussion with Ephorus (Synod leader) GKPM, Rev. Simanjuntak has shown that it would be more efficient if boats with medium capacity (25-50 Tonnes) can be provided for the transportation and distribution of aid to the people living in the remote villages. For the record, these villages cannot be accessed through land because there are no roads. Transport and distribution can only be done through sea and air. Team GKI considers purchasing the said vessel for this purpose and for future usage. It is estimated that the required funds for such purchase is about Rp 500 million or USD 55,000 or AUD 58,000 or S$ 66,000.

4) While conversing with Ephorus GKPM, the GKI-Humanitarian leader ask for the confirmation about the piling and undistributed aid in Minangkabau and Sikakap. The team is asking Epohorus to seek information whether the team can have access to the piling aid in order to be distributed. If so, then the team would shop for items that are not present in the aid packages such as carpentry tools necessary to rebuild the destroyed houses.

5) The GKI-Humanitarian lead by Rev. Rasid Rachman was stuck in Padang after shopping for aids (undergarment, sarong, etc.). The plan to cross to Mentawai by the ASDP boat was delayed due to violent ocean waves.

6) GKI-Humanitarian was interviewed by CCTV and in Padang the team joined with the GBKP (Gereja Batak Karo Protestan) team consisting of 9 members. One of which is Rev. Sitepu who sent his regards to the leader of GKI-Humanitarian. (To note, two months ago GKI-Humanitarian was in Mount Sinabung in the area of Karo in order to help the disaster victims in the Basic Life Support training, both for GBKP and HKBP in Samosir)

7) There are also volunteers joining in from GKI Kebayoran Baru (two doctors and two volunteers).

8) The plan to cross the next day was confirmed to be with the Navy’s ship, but the aid was not allowed onboard, the ship only for ferrying the volunteers. On 3/11/10 GKI-Humanitarian ferried to Mentawai by KRI Teluk Manado 537 at 08.00 to Sikakap. In KRI Teluk Manado there were over 200 other passengers. Rev. Rasid reported that during the voyage there were big waves, violent winds, and drizzle.

9) The team arrived in Sikakap at 19.27 in Pagai Selatan and spent the night in Mr. Celcius Berkat’s house. It was informed that the disaster struck areas are still inaccessible due to violent storms.

10) Next Monday 8/11/10 is planned for a more holistic GKI-Humanitarian, consisting of 15-20 volunteers, joining the medical team and the dispatched team.

Jogjakarta

1-4/11/10

1) GKI-Humanitarian Jogja at 1/11/10 since dead in the morning was ready in the Satkorlak post in Kaliurang had to stop giving services to the people due to the bigger eruption of Mount Merapi at 10.00. The villagers were panic and the traffic was congested. Satkorlak asked the team to help in handling the traffic.

2) Team II medical in other posts are safe and operating as usual.

3) Team III in Cangkringan post cancelled the mountain trek due to the post-eruption conditions. (Paulus Lie)

4) Seeing the conditions of the disaster victims after the eruption, GKI-Humanitarian started to provide evening services both medical and other kinds.

5) Hot cloud can reach down to 8 km from the mountain top, therefore the command post of GKI-Humanitarian Jogja was relocated for safety reasons. Moreover the safety limit is set to be 15 km from the mountain top.

6) The refugees also moved to further camps therefore the refugee camps in the 15 km limit was overcrowded. Some of the refugees were being kept in the local’s houses, this brought significant problems for GKI-Humanitarian because it was hard to give services to them. (Paulus Lie)

7) Attached is the complete report from GKI-Humanitarian Jogjakarta.

Magelang

3/11/10

1) Magelang was washed down by dust, sand, and water, the smell of sulphur was sickening and the dust was 3 cm thick.

2) The medical team was still working in the command posts.

3) The aid given consists of masks (provided by GKI-Humanitarian as many as 11.000 dozens), shampoo, biscuits, trash bags for the refugee camps, baby food, melamine plates and cups, portable stoves and gas canisters, and tarps for additional tents.

4) The number of refugees in Banyubiru post reached 3355 with 205 volunteers.

5) 4/11/10 Magelang became white due to ashes from Merapi, the mask given by GKI-Humanitarian is utilized efficiently. The people can exchange the dirty masks with new clean masks, including the elementary school children.

Wasior

1) In 3/11/10 GKI-Humanitarian accepted, in Kansinwil West Java, relief packages from PT B Braum Medical Indonesia, the aid was given from the 118 foundation for Wasior in the form of 11.631 items of IV and minor medical kit. The relief package will be transported to Papua with the final destination of Wasior where an abandoned private hospital was given to be managed by GKI-Humanitarian.

2) The naval transport services had been provided by Mr. Eddy Gunawan, a deacon from GKI Ressud Surabaya.

3) GKI-Humanitarian also requested that GKI Papua Klasis Sorong and Manokwari collaborated with Klasis Yapen-Waropen so that the relief package can be of use and arrive safely in Wasior

4) Latest news from GKI-Humanitarian volunteers in Wasior: “Wasior is flooded again, and we are in the alert, the streets are now filled with water. The people have started to evict themselves to the docks and public town halls. The water coming down from the hills are massive, due to three days of torrential rain, the water in the streets are knee high. The water flows down from the hill through the sides of the hotel and in front of BRI building, tonight we are in the alert. Please pray for the GKI-Humanitarian in Wasior.” (Ade Hartini)

Report by
Pdt. Kuntadi Sumadikarya - TGKI Sinode GKI
KS: Thursday, November 4^th 2010