19.09.2013

Mount Sinabung, Indonesia, erupted

For the second time, mount of Sinabung, situated in Karo district, North Sumatra erupted on Sunday, September 15,2013. Noted as the highest mount in North Sumatra, the mount stated as non active volcano for the last 400 years, but its first eruption in 2010 shocked people surround the area. Mostly the local peoples are GBKP congregations, one of UEM member Churches in North Sumatra.

Refugees reached 12.950 people

A series of eruptions for the last three days ignited local people to flee to evacuation shelters. The number of refugees rocketed up to 12.950 people from 12 spots around the mount of Sinabung.

There are 24 shelters mostly in Churches, and other public facilities in Berastagi and Kabanjahe. The refugees and shelters spread out (respectively the place and number of refugee) as follow: Jambur Sempakata (2308), Klasis GBKP (800), GBKP Kota/ KKR building (1200), GBKP Kota- Serbaguna Building (239), Jambur Payung (1500), KWK Berastagi/female (1300), Klasis Barastagi/male (381), Mosque Istikar Berastagi (174), Mesjid Agung (182), Zentrum (339), GBKP Simpang VI (220), Paroki (50), Jambur Tuah Lopati (800), Losd Tiganderket (1600), Tanjung Pulo (500), KNPI Building (170), GBKP Jl Kotacane (190), GBKP/Retreat Center (200), Sekolah Taman Doa Ora et Labora (105), Posko Jambur Tongkoh (350), Kantor ASAP (58), GBKP Asrama Kodim (9), and Gereja GBKP Katepul (275).

The doubled number of the refugees was caused by local people fleeing their homes in a radius of more than three kilometres around mount Sinabung, even though The Volcano Monitoring Agency (PVMBG) suggested that the risky zone is only three kilometres in radius. But since people do not feel informed properly, there is always worry since visually lava, the hot mud, and the thick black smoke stream from the top of Sinabung.

Basic need at the refugee shelters

According to Yanti Sitepu, a volunteer helping the refugees, a youth  of GBKP, there is a need of basic needs (Sembako) in particular rice, and healthy equipments for women and children. The rice gathered from the donateurs and Local Governemnt will only be enough until Thursday, September 19, 2013.
The official information from Local Government is that people in shelters are not allowed to go back home and should wait for the clear information regarding to the volcano activity from authorized body (Saurlin, UEM). 

If you want to help the refugees with your donation, feel free to do so.
Make your donation available to:
Vereinte Evangelische Mission
Konto 90 90 90 8
BLZ 350 601 90 8 (KD-Bank)
Refugees Sinabung