14.10.2010

Tsunami on the Mentawai Islands: Church first on site

The earthquake and the following devastating Tsunami on the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia has already claimed hundreds of lives. In the village of Muntei at the west coast of the North Pagai island alone at least 78 people died, several hundred are still missing. This information was sent to the United Evangelical Mission (UEM) by the Christian Protestant Church in Mentawai (GKPM).

Emergency relief

UEM is in constant communication with Mentawai. The headquarters in Germany has already provided € 10,000 as an emergency relief and a doctor from UEM’s Medan office will travel to Mentawai. He will closely cooperate with a team from the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI).

Waves up to seven meters high

In spite of heavy sea Parsaoran Simanjuntak, Bishop of GKPM, travelled with a emergency team to North Pagai yesterday. He reported about completely destroyed villages. At first sight, in Muntei only 80 of the 3,000 inhabitants have survived, all of the survivors are heavily injured. Waves up to seven meters high had flooded the villages located near the coast. The church is now trying to reach the island of South Pagai, where even worse destructions are suspected. There is still no contact to this region. High waves and the remoteness of the islands complicate the aid work: A ferry needs at least ten hours to reach Mentawai from the harbour of Padang in Sumatra.

Donations needed

Aid workers of the Mentawaian church are already supporting the survivors in the villages, which could be reached already. For emergency care tents, food, medicine, blankets and lamps are needed. UEM asks for donations to help the church: United Evangelical Mission, KD-Bank eG, Sort code: 350 601 90, Swift code: GENO DE D1 DKD, IBAN: DE45 3506 0190 0009 0909 08, account number: 90 90 90 8.