The islands of Indonesia are prone to earthquakes, seismic activity and volcanic eruptions due to their location on the Pacific’s Ring of Fire.  When disaster strikes, indigenous churches supported by World Relief keep the flame of hope alive.

Of all the countries affected by 2004’s tsunami disaster, Indonesia suffered the heaviest losses.  Over 138,000 Indonesians died in the wake of destruction on a massive scale.  World Relief continues to help rebuild broken lives and shattered communities.

The name Indonesia comes from the Greek phrase indus nesos, meaning islands near India.  The world’s largest archipelago (cluster of islands), Indonesia consists of 17,508 islands located between the Asian continent and Australia.  It is inhabited by over 350 tribal and ethnic groups who speak more than 740 different dialects.

After the Tsunami
In Indonesia, World Relief works with a network of like-minded agencies under the umbrella organization, Integral.  Together, we launched a multi-faceted response in the wake of the most catastrophic disaster of modern times.  We work closely with village committees to ensure local people are involved in the planning and decision-making for the rebuilding of their villages.  Responding in the Aceh Province of northern Sumatra, we continue to rebuild vital infrastructures and livelihoods destroyed by the tsunami. 

For generations, the Acehnese and Nias islanders have made their living from the sea.  In several coastal villages, we have rebuilt shrimp and fish ponds and are showing local people how to farm shrimp sustainably.  We have also built dozens of new fishing boats for local fishermen who lost everything, and we provide fishing and livelihood grants to 1,240 households.  World Relief and partners are in the process of building more than 850 houses, and we are actively involved in health education, child development, and agricultural initiatives aimed at helping 400 households diversify their incomes.

Java Quake
Java is the most densely populated island in the world.  In May 2006, an earthquake destroyed 95 percent of the homes in many of the villages near the city of Yogyakarta.  Within hours, World Relief was on the scene with food and other emergency supplies.  In the village of Muruh, we provided aid to more than 800 vulnerable families.  We are now working with local church partners to help survivors rebuild their homes, starting with one room for each household.  We provide the materials and tools – and the community provides the labor.  In Muruh, Christians and Muslims live side by side.  As always, World Relief helps all people, regardless of their faith.  “World Relief was the first organization to reach our people with food and tents, without any strings attached,” says a local pastor.  “It let people know that Christians care, and has strengthened our ability as a church to minister to our community.”