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April 11, 2005 
VOL.
43, NO. 7Oakland,
CA
CRS responds to Indonesian earthquake disaster
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) launched relief operations
on the Indonesian island of Nias shortly after a major earthquake rocked
the area March 28, killing an estimated 1,000 people and leaving thousands
more homeless.
CRS leased a 400-ton ship and joined five other humanitarian and relief
organizations in loading the ship with medical supplies, food and other
emergency items to carry to the remote island.
The supplies included ready-to-eat meals and other food, tents, body bags,
stoves, sleeping mats, health and hygiene kits, soap and other hygiene
items.
CRS vehicles were also loaded onto the ship as well as about 100 55-gallon
drums of fuel to power generators and vehicles on the island.
Nias is located close to the epicenter of the magnitude 8.7 quake that
hit off the coast of Sumatra. More than 1,000 people are believed to have
been killed, according to recent estimates, and the temblor brought down
homes and buildings across Nias and neighboring islands.
“There are a lot of people out on the streets who are hurt, have
lost their homes and have no access to food and water,” said Pat
Johns, CRS director for security and emergency services and the director
of relief and reconstruction operations in Indonesia. “The greatest
need is in Nias right now, so all the agencies and the government are
focusing their attention to the island.”
The Catholic agency also provided more than $100,000 in supplies and logistics
to bring the emergency aid to Nias and to other small islands in the area.
Based in Indonesia since 1957, CRS has been providing emergency relief
and programs that support community-based healthcare, agriculture, small
businesses and peace between ethnic and religious groups.
