Report from Wondama Bay (En)

Reports from Wasior, Wondama Bay.

Suryadi Soedarmo (Ambulance Foundation 118)

Circumstances during my presence 29^th of October and 30^th of October 2010

1. Most citizens (around 80%) are still in refuge.
2. The emergency hospital in the Social department is functioning but lacks everything.
3. The number of doctors is sufficient (because of the addition of doctors from GKI.), there is a scarcity of nurses. If the refugees return there will be massive shortages of doctors and nurses.
4. Advice :

1. It is a correct decision to keep the GKI-Humanitarian in Wondama until the 20^th of November 2010
2. Additional equipments has been mentioned by Dr.Elvina
3. Mangurai hospital:

= the administration room is ready for use

= the nurse quarters require some cleaning

= years of experience in disaster management taught me that there are no structural damages on the Mangurai Hospital.

Should there be any doubt about the structural integrity, I would like to advise the invitation of Ir. Teddy Boen, earthquake expert from Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

4. The emergency hospital has to be moved to Mangurai hospital ASAP

Others :

1. The water reservoir in the Mandiboi Mountains has caused repeated flash floods.

I am unaware if there are steps taken to control it (hydroelectric and fresh watter supply?), but if there are no actions taken, then Wasior will always live in fear especially during long torrential rains.

2. I am glad to see the GKI-Humanitarian. They came and tried to fulfill the people’s immediate needs, different from other teams that only come, erected tents, and give medication.

Update GKI Humanitarian 5 November 2010 (En)

Update Tim Gerakan Kemanusiaan Indonesia

(Tim GKI) 5 November 2010

Mentawai

5/11/10

1) Team GKI arrived in the Maonae hamlet, in the village of Bulasat, Pantai Barat, Pulau Pagai Selatan, the southernmost area of Mentawai while the seas were calm and friendly. Went from Sikakap at 06.30 returning at 19.30.

2) The GKI team observed that 100% of houses and buildings in the area were decimated, and only 38 families were left. The needs of the village include lightings, bible, and a big tent for temporary worship place, kitchen and its equipment, and daily life support.

3) After meeting with the victims, the Team sees such longing in the people to worship. The victims desperately need some spiritual healing, because desperation has become a daily meal for these people.

4) GKI Surya Utama Jakarta will respond by donating 1.000 bibles and Sunday school books, both for the children and the Sunday school teachers.

5) Bitter sweet news. Team GKI Mentawai found out that few children are wearing hijab and Moslem cap, even though they are Christians. In the absence of any wearable garments, those clothes maybe a blessing, but must also be corrected by the church in helping the victims in isolated areas more swiftly. (Rasid Rachman)

Magelang

5/11/10

1) Team GKI Magelang is preparing to respond for the immense number of refugees pouring into Magelang. The patients from the Muntilan General Hospital had been evacuated to Magelang. GKI Pajajaran had been asked by the Health Department to act as one of the refugee camp.

2) A number of ladies and 30 volunteers from Team GKI Magelang, starting from 08.00 had prepared 200 rations of rice for the day. The Army Hospital in Magelang also requested for 80 rations for the refugees.

Jogjakarta

5/11/10

1) Team GKI Jogjakarta still serve 4 command posts: the volunteers number increase to 100 people a day.

2) In the church building of GKI Adisucipto where 300 refugees were helped fully by the GKI Team,

3) In Maguwo Stadium (a place where 70 thousand refugees are located) the GKI team was officially given the responsibility to handle the western areas. The team has only managed a part of the 2^nd floor. The services given are: health, child services, communal kitchen, hospital treatment for few patients with broken legs, etc.

4) As the result of the expanding safety zone from 10 – 15 km into 20 km, therefore Klaten, Prambanan, Boyolali was flooded with refugees even though the officials and the people were not ready.

5) Team GKI Jogjakarta had helped in the form of funding and aid for GKI Pambanan command post, and in Wedi post – Klaten (location for the relocated refugees from Gemalang). (Paulus Lie).

6) It was informed that Marsudirini and Van Lith school in Muntilan is having food shortages. Many of the students were starving, even though there are a lot of refugees fleeing from Muntilan. The GKI Team directly responded to the news.

Jakarta

5/11/10

1) The GKI team received a grand donation in the form of 2 light trucks full of medicine and minor medical equipment from PT B-Brown Medical via the 118 Foundation. As many as 14.329 boxes are waiting in the Team GKI office in Jakarta.

2) Tomorrow a part of the team will be dispatched to Magelang, Jogja, and Klaten transported by the Team GKI Kayu Putih, Jakarta.

3) The rest will be allocated to Wasior and Mentawai.

Report by

Pdt. Kuntadi Sumadikarya - TGKI Sinode GKI

KS: Friday, 05 November 2010

GKI-Humanitarian in Serui and Wasior (En)

GKI-Humanitarian in Serui and Wasior

Flood in Wasior...

As the growing district capital of Wondama Bay, the town of Wasior actually has a significant role in the evangelical movement in Papua (the land of Cendrawasih). It was here that the father of Papuan civilisation, Rev. Izaac Samuel Kijne built the zending school and laid the cornerstone of the Papuan civilisation. Will the flood shatter their faith?

The grieving atmosphere is looming over Papua. After the devastating earthquake in the district of Yapen and Waropen on June 16^th 2010, another 7,4 on the Richter scale earthquake shocked Kaimana on September the 30^th. Four days later, a flash flood struck Wasior, the district capital of Wondama Bay. The flood that devastated numerous hamlets coincides with the passing of Rev. Wim Rumsarwir, the former synod leader of GKI in Papua.

Stone of Civilisation

Wasior started to gain its fame when Rev Izaac Samuel Kijne founded the Zending school in Wonadama in 1925. He moved from Marsiman, the first foothold of the evangelical movement in Papua in the February 5^th 1855. in the year 1857 Ottow and Geissler opened the evangelical school for children and adults that teaches about the bible and the life ethics of a Christian. The heart of it lays on the Zending and the Church.

The most famous landmark in Wondama is the Stone of Civilization erected by Rev. I.S. Kijne with the message: “On this stone I put the cornerstone of Papuan civilisation. Even when people have a high degree of intellect, understanding and knowledge but cannot lead this nation, the nation will rose and lead it self” (Wasior, October 25^th 1925). The religious message from Kijne as the founding father of Papuan civilization signifies that the people of Papua will be the masters of their own land. Other than the Stone of Civilisation in Miei there’s also the Stone of Inspiration. According to the local believe, should one stand atop of the stone and view the beautiful scenery of Wondama, one will be given inspiration to bring changes.

After the flood, David Wompere climb onto the Stone of Civilisation. “I wrote there about a silent song sung to give a new inspiration about how God’s grace will be forever present there. I admit that God will never abandon His children is the foundation of many testimonies given by many missionaries that has rooted until today.” David said in the Manokwari refugee camp.

The Cornerstone

The flood that killed more than 150 people, hundreds more missing, and displaced many people left a deep wound in the hearts of the people. Will they be able to return to Wasior? The million questions from the thousands of refugees have no answer for now. The flood ripped the faith and took away almost everything. But one that cannot be lost is hope. For that we all need to return to our source of hope, Christ as the cornerstone

Serve those who are Served

In order to reach the disaster struck Wasior, the team have to go though a tedious journey. The news about the flood was received by the GKI team after the team returns from giving medical services to the people of Urato, East Waropen (4/10). After the GKI team communicated with the Chairman in Jakarta via cellular phone, the team decided to dispatch an evacuation team to join with the local team in October 5^th 2010, due to the needs to give medical services to the medically deprived people of Waropen because of the scarcity of medical practitioners (only 1 civil servant doctor for the entire district of Waropen), coincides with the bad weather, The medical unit of GKI-Humanitarian can finally leave Waropen on Thursday morning to Serui. It was planned that the team would fly to Nabire to give medical services to the refugees, but the flight was cancelled due to bad weather. Finally, on Saturday night the team sailed with KM Nggapulu. After 6 hours of sailing, on Sunday at 05.00 WIT the ship arrived in Nabire. With few considerations, the team decided to continue the journey to Wasior after stocking supplies in Nabire. In their Journey to Wasior the team did some medical services to the victims who wanted to return to Wasior, even though the team’s health conditions were not in their prime.

On Sunday afternoon at 15.00 WIT, October 10^th 2010, thousands of refugees packed the wharf of Kuri Pasai, Wasior, while waiting for the motor boat (KM) Nggapulu to dock. The continuous drizzle didn’t seem to make them leave the wharf. From afar the team can see waves of refugees coming with debris of houses and timber as the background.

While waiting for the boat to dock, from the left side of the hull of deck 6 of KM Nggapulu, the Gerakan Kemanusiaan Indonesia Team (TGKI) conducted coordination and task distribution. The coordination results are “Nelles, Irwan, dr. Johanes, dr. Martin and dr. Welly will asses the situation. Mrs. Ade and Mrs. Ratna will collect data. Sugianto, Rev. Resly, Rev. Chris, and Rev. Oropa will go to the GKI command post.” After the boat docked in Wasior, the team directly gather information and took the necessary actions. Visited the GKI command post in Papua and met with the synod leader of Papua Rev. Jemima Krey, S.Th and the secretary of the deacon department Rev. Simon Wospakrik.

Seeing the present situation, which is most citizens of Wasior had fled their homes, there wasn’t many things that can be done in Wasior. Meanwhile, thousands of refugees evicted with KM Nggapulu was in a dire condition and requires immediate treatment. Eventually the team decided to give medical services onboard the KM Nggapulu. With the permission of the ship’s captain, the team scoured the deck in order to give the refugees onboard some medical services. TGKI started the service from deck 6 to deck 4 as the place of the Wasior refugees. Aside from that, there are several refugees that required further medical treatment, therefore TGKI borrowed the ship’s clinic in deck 7 in order to give the necessary treatment.

Refugees

Around 23.30 WIT, the ship docked in the Manokwari harbour and all TGKI’s public health team debarked with the refugees. After 3 hours, TGKI found a place to rest for a while.

The morning of 11 October 2010 reenergized the team’s spirit to meet the refugees in Manokwari. After coordinating with the Task Force Commander of the Army’s Special Forces (KOPASSUS) - who happens to be a former school mate of one of the TGKI volunteer – and a business man – who befriended of one the TGKI volunteer when the business man was in Jakarta – then the team visits the refugees housed in the Army’s district base (KODIM) in Manokwari. When the team arrived in the compound, the Health Department of Manokwari District has given medical services. After a brief discussion with the officer from the healthcare department, TGKI was asked to distribute mosquito net and converse with the refugees. Because according to the healthcare officers – whom mostly are not members of the church, while the refugees are mostly church members – there are several communication problems. While distributing the mosquito net and through conversations with the refugees, there were lots of sad stories. The services given were supposedly routinely given by the local church because the refugees are living like there is no hope. They desperately need some trauma healing.

The Next Services Given By GKI-Humanitarian

The emergency state given by the government ended in November 1^st 2010 and there is a possibility of extension, considering at the moment (October 17^th 2010) the floods are returning to Wasior.

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