July 27, 2007

As reported earlier this week, heavy rains have caused landslides and flooding that have affected a large area of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, with as many as 65 now reported killed. Affected areas now include the North Bungku, Maosalato, Soyo Jaya and Petisia sub-districts.

North Bungku is the sub-district most heavily affected by the floods, with Ueruru village and Boba village being the seriously affected, Church World Service Indonesia reported. While evacuations continue, the need for food supplies remains dire. Rains are also affecting the ability of officials to provide medicines, food and other relief materials.

A Church World Service assessment team reports that dozens need to be evacuated from affected villages but that some areas are not reachable right now.

CWS Response: This week, CWS Indonesia deployed an emergency assessment team to the affected areas. As an initial response, CWS plans to distribute 400 blankets and 400 hygiene kits to the affected areas. As part of the initial distribution, a CWS team traveled by boat to the Soyo Jaya sub-district this week for blanket and hygiene kit distribution, distributing blankets to 160 households and hygiene kits to 200 households.

In its response, CWS Indonesia is working closely with other members of the Action by Churches Together (ACT) International network in Indonesia.

Media Contact: Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org