Latest News #186 (Indonesia)
February 19, 2002

Indonesian Bible Society ministers
to flood victims

JAKARTA, Indonesia — The Indonesian Bible Society (LAI) is collaborating in a project to distribute food, clothing, blankets and medicine – as well as Bibles – to victims of the severe flooding which has hit the island of Java.

A family with young children escape the rising flood water which forced at least 300,000 people to seek shelter in refugee centres. Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: Indonesian Bible Society (INO02DJ_1.JPG)

Responding to a recent enquiry, Mr M A Supardan, LAI General Secretary, said that while Jakarta had been badly hit, the floods had taken their toll all over the island and in some outlying islands, and that Bible Society staff had been among those who were trapped by the floodwaters.

He said LAI was working with local communities and churches to collect and distribute Scriptures, basic food - especially babies’ and children’s food – clothing, blankets and medicine. The Society was also planning to provide free Scriptures specifically for church members whose Bibles were among the possessions they had lost.

The flooding, which began at the end of January, is thought to have caused the deaths of at least 25 people in and around the capital and at its height it forced an estimated 300,000 people into makeshift shelters in schools and mosques. CNN reported that thousands of houses were under two metres (6.5 feet) of dirty water.

At least 300,000 people were forced to flee their homes when torrential rain caused severe flooding. Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: Indonesian Bible Society (INO02DJ_2.JPG)

LAI staff member Mr Pandelaki and his family survived for nearly a week on the roof of their house after being caught unawares by the speed with which the nearby river was rising during the night. The sheer number of people awaiting rescue prevented help from reaching the family any sooner.

“Now Mr Pandelaki has nothing except the clothes he wears,” said an LAI report. “Nevertheless he is so grateful that God has saved him and his family.”

Many people were asleep when the danger came, among them the Hubarat family, who took refuge in a church.

“That night the water suddenly reached the height of a grown-up’s chest,” said Mr Hubarat. “We only thought how to save our children and therefore did not have a chance to bring our Bible or our goods.”

Torrential rain caused severe flooding forcing at least 300,000 people to flee their homes and seek shelter in refugee centres. Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: Indonesian Bible Society (INO02DJ_3.JPG)

Acting on information sent out by the humanitarian team of the Indonesian Christian Church Synod, the LAI went to evacuation shelters and distributed nearly 900 Bibles and Scripture Portions.