Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) - “We continue to provide humanitarian aid to displaced persons affected by natural disasters in the past months. Our Pontifical Mission Societies group of lay volunteers continues to collect money, food, blankets and other useful material. Earthquake victims in Bandung and Yoyakarta still need assistance. The situation is improving slowly but more new homes must be built before people can resume normal life. Catholic volunteers have offered excellent service to the local people but more must be done before the rains arrive”. This report was sent to Fides by the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Indonesia Rev. Patrisius Pa, as efforts continue on the part of the Indonesian government and the international community and Caritas in areas affected by the earthquakes in May in Yoyakarta and Pangandaran-Bandung in July.
In a recent report Caritas Internationalis said despite all the aid which has arrived at least 40% of the people have yet to resume dignified living conditions and are in danger of epidemics of disease increases as the rain season of October approaches. “People need shelter and food but we are able to help only 300 families out of thousands in need. The humanitarian emergency is not over”, says Paul Armour, Caritas confederation worker in Indonesia.
Humanitarian workers say since rebuilding homes will stop in the rain season it is necessary to more the refugees to places where they can be given better assistance. There is also a danger of the eruption of Merapi volcano seismologists and civil authorities have warned. Scarcity of healthcare is also a problem for children, woman and elderly people and many local and international NGOs are still in place with medical assistance programmes. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 6/9/2006 righe 27 parole 271)
