Cologne. Malteser International and YEU, the Indonesian partner organisation, have distributed 150 so-called family kits to the earthquake affected population of Pilubang in the Padang Pariaman district, north of Padang in Western Sumatra. The kits contain blankets and hygiene articles such as towels and soap. "Around 90% of the houses are destroyed and the majority of people are lacking shelter. People are in urgent need of emergency shelters - especially as the rainy season has started", reports Nicole Derbinski, coordinator of Malteser International projects in Indonesia, from the earthquake-prone region.
Helpers therefore distribute sleeping mats and plastic sheets as protection against the heavy rains. More plastic sheets for the construction of shelters, blankets and sleeping mats are urgently needed. To continuously support the population of Pilubang, Malteser International will organise as soon as possible a distribution of further emergency items through their local teams on the ground.
Malteser International has been working in Indonesia since the tsunami in 2004 and has always concentrated on strengthening local structures. For this reason, it is at this time not necessary to send further international experts to the earthquake zone.
In order to provide further relief to the people in need, Malteser International is in urgent need of support. - Join our network of relief and donate:
Donation Account 2020122;
Pax-Bank Köln, von-Werth-Str. 25-27, D-50670 Köln, Germany,
Sort Code: 370 60 193; IBAN : DE93 3706 0193 0002 0201 22; BIC: GENODED1PAX
Reference : "Natural disasters South-East Asia"
Or online at www.malteser-spenden.de
Malteser International is the worldwide relief agency of the Sovereign Order of Malta for humanitarian aid. The organisation provides aid in about 200 projects in more than 20 countries without distinction of religion, race or political persuasion. Christian values and the humanitarian principles of impartiality and independence are the foundation of its work. For further information: www.malteser-international.org and www.orderofmalta.org
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
An Indonesian rescue worker rests as he surveys the earthquake-ravaged village of Tandikat in Indonesia's West Sumatra province October 5, 2009. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (INDONESIA ENVIRONMENT DISASTER) ...
