Estimates - 1.5 million homeless

Dear All,

A terrible situation in central Java just coming to light. A woman from CARE and someone from World Bank speaking just before 7.00 news. The first estimate of 200,000 without homes is now known to be about 1.5 million!!!!!!!! Both speakers stressed the need for money!!!

The reason why estimates were so far out, is that there are so many rural communities - so many of them not reached in the early days. Central Java is also one of, if not THE most densely populated region in the world. It is for this reason that the rebuilding will be much harder than rebuilding after the tsunami.........and I know many have been disappointed at the slowness of that.

The CARE woman spoke of a community where there were 50 children ill - 2 had died already. Sanitation is practically non-existent.- water is a problem. Only a few months before the rainy season brings added danger and misery.

We were talking last night about the earthquake now being 'old news'--I hope the major papers now bring it back to front page!

Let us try hard to raise awareness - and encourage donations!

Mum/Margaret

What is happening now

Today's news broadcast from Indonesia via SBS television, reported on the situation in the villages around Klaten - the city north of Yogyakarta.

This is the area described by Sari in her reports about work of Klinik Kerabat Kota Yogyakarta (Klinik KKY) in villages including Kragilan, Brangkal, Bijak and Cendol.

Emergency medical aid to treat injuries is now being supplanted by treatment of illnesses such as diarrhea, dysentery and respiratory disorders, caused by overcrowding, uncertain supply of clean water, food and shelter.

At this stage it is vital that assistance offered from inside and outside Indonesia be coordinated to achieve maximum effect. The work of Klinik KKY enables it to identify the most pressing needs of many isolated and disadvantaged communities so that help can be provided most efficiently, utilizing the best resources available.

In these villages in the Klaten area Klinik KKY is working with SGN to provide the kind of material and psychological support so necessary for rebuilding devastated lives. SGN has already cleared debris in two of the villages and set up community centres where Klinik KKY is able to hold regular clinics, where food can be prepared, where people can meet, and where activities can be organised for children. Already, in these 2 centres, 200 children (their schools destroyed) are being helped as well as being taught practical health and hygiene.

Your donations will help sustain people who have suddenly had their homes destroyed, their lives uprooted. Many are poor village people. Your donations will help these communities to survive and begin the hard work of rebuilding their lives.

Klinik Kerabat and SGN - News (3 - 4 June 2006)

For 2 days we have been busy preparing a place for a public kitchen and where children can gather. My family has hired people from Sragen (a city about 60km to the East) to clear demolished buildings and level some land which will become a public space where children can learn and play, mothers can cook, and people can meet to plan. Last Thursday colleagues from Yayasan Prakarsa (Foundation for Initiatives) in Klaten offered to help with our program for children. Hopefully we can soon begin some long-term programs to help the people in the hamlets of Bicak and Ngunut, which are like "suburbs" in the village of Brangkal.

This morning, the Subur Gemi Nastiti (SGN) team will assist the villages of Brangkal and Kragilan. Four cars provided by the Mitsubishi Club, Jakarta, have asked to help, while friends who arrived last night from Bali will manage the public kitchen and coordinate work in the villages of Bicak and Brangkal. I myself will guide 2 carloads of friends to work in the village of Kragilan, while another 2 cars will go to Bicak in Brangkal.

We will distribute food supplies, clothing and tarpaulins. Another friend will join tonight with a tent and lamps. Lighting is urgently needed to prevent theft. People are asking for tents and keroscene lamps and also torches to enable them to patrol their villages to help safeguard their remaining belongings.

On Sunday (4 June) friends will arrive from Bandung, West Java to help for 2 days. They will help me to set up a public kitchen in the villages of Bicak and Brangkal. On Monday 2 doctors from Kupang (Timor) will arrive and have asked us to facilitate their disaster relief work. Klinik Kerabat and SGN will ask them to assist in the hilly district of South Klaten where there has been little aid.

I want to thank you all for the assistance you have given us. I paricularly want to thank those people in Armidale, Toowoomba and Melbourne who have given donations. Every donation is significant for the people suffering.