Relief Floods into Indonesia’s Nias Island After Quake
The UN and other relief agencies, including several Christian groups already stationed in South Asia, rushed to ferry aid supplies to Indonesia’s Nias island Tuesday, immediately after the 8.7-magnititue earthquake hit offshore Monday.
The death toll estimates for the quake ranged from 330 to 2,000. And after a day of unrest over the fear of another tsunami, residents at the island began searching through the rubble and smoke for survivors by early Tuesday morning.
In Jakarta, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono sent condolences to the families of the dead. He said Indonesia had been offered help from around the world. "We welcome and highly appreciate it," he said.
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According to the Associated Press, a soccer field was turned into a temporary relief center, and people swarmed around U.N. helicopters as they landed to deliver relief supplies.
The International Organization for Migration meanwhile said it was sending trucks loaded with water, milk and other food items, and medical supplies to the Sumatran port town of Sibolga, where they will be ferried to Gunung Sitoli.
Relief workers and officials on scene say the greatest problem is the lack of communication in the region.
"It's difficult to get information — all the government officials have run to the hills because they are afraid of a tsunami," presidential envoy T.B. Silalahi said.
Lutheran World Relief (LWR) staff member Jeff Rasmussen, who returned from the island of Nias last week, explained that poor communication has prevented the organization from contacting their staff on scene.
"Communications to and on Nias are difficult, as is travel there. LWR is waiting to hear from partners working on the island. We'll know much more when day breaks there,” said Rasmussen, who helped organize LWR’s effort after the Dec. 26th tsunami in Nias.
"Nias didn't receive nearly the help the mainland did. But I assure you, the need there is significant as well, and we can only imagine, at this point, that it will be that much more challenging with Monday's quake destroying the few homes that remained,” Jeff explained.
Church World Service Indonesia (CWS) is also contributing non-food items to the island. They have prepared 25 boxes of medicine, 1,000 units of non-food packages and 500 tents to be distributed. The containers are expected to be delivered on Wednesday.
Action by Churches Together has also approved $500,000 of relief to the latest disaster.
Meanwhile, Virginia-based Christian Freedom International said it has a container of “blankets, tools, clothing, cooking utensils, soap, medicines and more for Nias scheduled for shipment to the Island next week.”
But the CFI president said much more is needed.
“Donations from private charities, churches and individuals are so vitally important," said CFI president Jim Jacobson. "Please act today. Again I must point out, most, if any of the aid from governments or the United Nations will not make it to the hands of minority Christians in Indonesia; I know I was just there. That's why private charities, churches, and individuals are so vitally important for marginalized Christians in Indonesia."
To date, Japan and Australia offered to sent troops to Nias to help with the cleanup if Jakarta asks, and India pledged $2 million in aid. U.S. officials also promised rapid assistance.
"We're applying what we've learned from the previous earthquake so that we can be prepared to be responsive quickly and in a meaningful way," deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said Monday.
According to AP, the earthquake occurred along the same tectonic fault line as the massive 9.0 magnetite quake that caused the Dec. 26 disaster. Three months have passed since the tsunami struck, and 100,000 residents are still missing. At least 174,000 people died in 11 countries, and 1.5 million were left homeless.
Seismologists said the epicenter of Monday's earthquake was about 75 miles north of Nias. It was felt as far away as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
