ACT News Update, 12 May 2004
ACT News Update Indonesia 01/04:
ACT members assist displaced families following violence in
Indonesia
ACT News Update
Indonesia 01/04
Geneva, May 12, 2004 -- Following a week of violent clashes between Muslims and
Christians in the Indonesian city of Ambon in late April, local members of the global
alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International and their partners are
responding to the needs of families that were affected by being displaced or having
their houses set on fire.
According to the provincial government, as of May 4, more than 2,598 families (over
10,000 people) were displaced, 40 people had been killed, and more than 270 had
been injured.
An ACT appeal for US$93,725 was issued to enable ACT members YAKKUM
(Yayasan Kristen untuk Kesehatan Umum - Christian Foundation for Public Health)
Emergency Unit (YEU) and Yayasan Tanggul Bencana (YTB) to provide to the most
vulnerable of the displaced basic food and non-food items. ACT provided an immediate
advance of US$40,000 towards the appeal ($25,000 to YEU and $15,000 to YTB) to
ensure that both members could provide the support they had proposed during the
critical crisis phase.
A partner of YEU, Parakletos, will provide displaced persons in the Kudamati area and
Passo and surrounding areas with food, cooking utensils and clothing. Another
partner, Arikal, will assist displaced persons in Ambon City, including the Muslim
community, and from Amahusu to Latuhalat. In all, YEU will oversee the assistance of
687 households and a total of 4,494 people.
YTB will provide similar material aid to 508 households (2,540 people) in the areas
around Ambon.
The food aid being provided to displaced persons includes rice, noodles, lentils, sugar,
vegetable oil and canned fish. Hygiene kits consisting of soap, toothpaste, tooth
brushes and detergent are also being supplied to families. Non-food items include
underwear, towels, blankets and cooking utensils. The emergency response by the
ACT members is expected to last one month.
For further information, please contact: ACT Communications Officer Callie Long
(mobile/cell phone +41 79 358 3171) or ACT Press Office Stephen Padre (mobile/cell
phone +41 79 681 1868)
ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org
Callie Long
Communications Officer
ACT International Coordinating Office
Tel: +41 22 791 6039/6033
Mobile: +41 79 358 3171
Fax: +41 22 791 6506
Home Page: http://www.reliefweb.int
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