JAKARTA (UCAN): In the wake of the magnitude 5.6 earthquake that rocked Indonesia’s West Java province on November 21, Caritas Indonesia has been coordinating with teams from three dioceses—Bogor, Bandung, and Jakarta—along with other Catholic organisations to provide assistance to victims across four districts.
Fredy Rante Taruk, executive director of Caritas Indonesia, said the coordination was under the control of the Caritas Bureau of Diocese of Bogor, which oversees the affected areas. He said that 100,000,000 rupiah [$52,620] was being provided for the initial response.
The quake struck 10 kilometres southwest of the Cianjur district at 1:21pm causing buildings to collapse while school classes were in session, killing at least 268 people—many of them students—CNN reported on November 23. A further 151 people remained missing and more than 1,000 were injured and 7,000 displaced, according to the country’s National Agency for Disaster Management [BNPB] at the time of going to press.
“The team has gone to the field to collect data and determine the response [required] from the Church network,” Taruk said.
In a number of amateur videos circulating on social media, several buildings in Cianjur were seen almost completely destroyed, while roads were cracked.
We held a coordination meeting last night. Currently, those in the field who have moved quickly to provide services are volunteers and members of the Catholic Youth
Doni Akur
BNPB noted that as of the morning of November 22, there had been 118 aftershocks ranging between 1.5 and 4.2 in magnitude.
Doni Akur, a Caritas Indonesia worker, said a coordination post is currently centred at the Church of St. Peter’s, Cianjur.
“We held a coordination meeting last night. Currently, those in the field who have moved quickly to provide services are volunteers and members of the Catholic Youth,” he said on November 22.
He said that Caritas Indonesia had also sent a team to a coordination meeting with the government regarding further handling of the rescue.
“In addition, the Diocese of Bogor has also sent a team of doctors who will coordinate with the government to provide emergency services. Medical services, health and psychological assistance are currently needed,” he said.
Akur said that Caritas is monitoring the event and its impact, and had sent a report on its progress to national and international stakeholders.
In addition, the Diocese of Bogor has also sent a team of doctors who will coordinate with the government to provide emergency services. Medical services, health and psychological assistance are currently needed
Doni Akur
The earthquake also damaged 3,257 houses and public facilities and 7,064 have been displaced from their homes. Cianjur parish church and Mardi Yuana Catholic school were among the damaged buildings.
In a video sent to UCAN by Father Bonefasius Budiman, the parish priest, the church ceiling can be seen falling to the ground, with some parts of the building cracking and statues inside the church falling.
Father Budiman said they are still looking for data on people who have been affected and what is known so far is that only two students at Mardi Yuana school were injured and are being treated in a hospital.
West Java governor, Ridwan Kamil, and the Cianjur district head issued a decree stipulating an emergency response period of 30 days.
The joint government apparatus is carrying out search and rescue efforts in affected locations, opening public kitchens, emergency hospitals and preparing refugee tents.
BNPB chairperson, Suharyanto, pledged that damaged houses will be repaired by the government as well as public facilities, such as schools and places of worship.
Indonesia is situated on the so-called Ring of Fire, a region around the rim of the Pacific basin that is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Donations to Caritas Indonesia can be made on its website at: https://karina.or.id/donasi/
