September 14, 2007, Bengkulu, Indonesia - With emergency staff reaching areas hit hardest by a series of earthquakes over the past 48 hours on the Indonesian Island Sumatra, relief supplies are on their way to those most affected.

Having committed an initial $50,000 to emergency relief efforts, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) today purchased 5,000 tarps and 500 family kits for distribution within the next 48 hours in Bengkulu. The family kits will include tarps, mosquito nets, basic kitchen utensils, lanterns, cooking items, and mats, among other essentials.

"People who have been affected greatly need temporary shelters, as they are unable to go back into their houses for fear of aftershocks, as well as damage to their homes. Many are staying under makeshift tents along main roads or in open fields," said CRS Indonesia Country Director Rich Balmadier.

The latest information from all Bengkulu sub-districts, except two northern outlying sub-districts, reports that 123 houses have collapsed, 1,576 houses are heavily damaged, and 3,835 houses are lightly damaged.

"The trend is that as people do more thorough and comprehensive assessments, they're finding more and more damaged houses," said Balmadier.

CRS is focusing its response in the seriously affected areas of Batiknau sub-district, north of Bengkulu city, and is assessing the possibility of distributing rice and dried fish to help families extend their food availability for longer period. Many families in hard-hit areas have mentioned that they have enough food only for a short span of days.

"We should give [families] tools to clean up their living areas. During the daytime, people are willing to work, but it's Ramadan; fasting. In some areas people say, 'It's fine. We can start.' To me, at least if CRS can support as soon as possible, it will be good if they are recovered by the end of Ramadan, because then they can truly celebrate," said Adhong Syahir Ramadhan, CRS Indonesia's emergency director in Bengkulu.