The latest from Indonesia...

Conditions remain desperate in Padang, Indonesia, after the area was rocked by two powerful earthquakes last week. The first quake of 7.6 magnitude hit the city, the capital of West Sumatra, Tuesday followed by an aftershock of 6.2 magnitude. These were felt in countries as far as Malaysia and Singapore.

Authorities have said they have little hope of finding more survivors, and they expect the number of dead to rise significantly in coming days as crews work to remove rubble. Official estimates list the number of houses damaged as 179,629.

A Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), including two representatives from the UK, is on the ground in Padang.

The team has begun purchasing emergency supplies for distribution. These include plastic sheeting for 1,000 temporary shelters; 1,000 tool kits; 1,000 blankets; 1,000 hygiene kits; and 1,000 food parcels. Tool kits include saws, hammers, gloves, shovels, boots, and nails. Food parcels include bread, sugar, salt, and salt fish. Hygiene kits include soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, towels, and combs.

The team is currently focusing its efforts on the harder-to-reach mountainous region, 3 ½ hours away from Padang. To date, very little aid has made its way through to these villages, due to difficult road conditions and landslides. The team visited one location where a landslide had killed approximately 200 people who were attending a wedding, also meeting a woman who had seen her relatives literally swept away as her house was destroyed by another landslide.

The team have managed to secure a helicopter and are planning a more significant distribution of food and tool kits in the coming days.

As one member of the DART Team states: ‘There is a huge challenge to know how best to target our limited resources. Please pray that the Lord would lead and direct as we make connections and discern the right way forward.’

In addition, the DART Team are currently assessing the need for clean water in the worst-hit areas and are working out an effective response to this.

Ways you can help

Pray:

•  That people would get the help they need as quickly as possible
•  For our teams in Indonesia, as they show the compassion of Christ to survivors
•  For wisdom in determining the most effective response to these disasters

Tell:

•  Share this story with a friend or relative and encourage them respond in some way too; you might even want to email them the URL link to this story

Give:

•  £10 will provide emergency food for a family of 5 for 1 month
•  £20 will provide an emergency kit for 1 family
•  £50 can provide emergency water for up to 30 people for 1 month