Mercy Relief (MR)’s field team has been working closely with the local authorities of Megalang district since 28th October 2010. Megalang district is one of the worst affected districts by the Merapi eruption. The humanitarian organization has been focusing their relief efforts at Dukun sub-district servicing approximately 30,000 IDPs, procuring and supplying medical equipment (including respiratory management units – nebulizers, oxygen tanks) to the Dukun Health Centre which is the main health provider for the IDPs camps. This health centre is not adequately equipped to manage the sharp increase in the number of patients whose health deterioration have been mainly caused by the volcanic ash. MR also provided medication for respiratory (including asthma), gastrointestinal, skin and eye problems. (Photos 1 & 2 below)
Mount Merapi has continued to erupt and the danger zone has now been increased to 20km radius. Dukun is now located within the high risk area. Megalang district was without electricity since 3rd. Many are living in darkness and only few luckier ones get managed to get electricity through individual generators. Natural hazard aside, electricity supply has been disrupted due to the damage to the electricity cables caused by fallen trees which could not support the additional weight of volcanic ashes accumulated on their branches and leaves. (Photos 3 & 4 below)
On 5th November, a major eruption occurred and an immediate mass evacuation was ordered by the State. The prompt emergency evacuation gave the many IDPs little opportunity to bring along their personal belongings and many are left with the bare minimum necessities at the camps. The number of IDPs has increased significantly and substantially since, with Megalang now having almost 100,000 IDPs (about 40,000 IDPs in Dukun sub-district). MR team distributed 500 hygiene kits to IDP families originated from Sewukan village near Dukun. Each hygiene kit contained bath soap, tooth brush, toothpaste, shampoo, detergent, comb, sanitary pad & antiseptic powder. (Photo 5 below)
Total value of medical equipment and supplies, hygiene kits and food provided by MR is more than SGD30,000.
MR’s 4-man field team will continue be on the ground to work closely with the local authorities to monitor and address the needs of these IDPs.
(Photo 1)
(Photo 2)
(Photo 3)
(Photo 4)
(Photo 5)
About Mercy Relief
Mercy Relief is a Singaporean humanitarian organisation which engages in both disaster relief and sustainable development programmes. It was established in 2003 as an independent non-governmental humanitarian charity responding to the human tragedies in Asia. Mercy Relief’s aid programme focuses on providing timely and effective assistance to disaster-stricken communities and has maintained the delivery of emergency aid within 72 hours from the point of appeal for assistance.
In the past 12 years, Mercy Relief has disbursed over S$32 million in aid across 40 disaster relief and 53 sustainable development initiatives. Mercy Relief has impacted an aggregate of 2 million lives in 24 countries and areas, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Yemen.
For more information, you may call us at 6514 6322 or email corporateaffairs@mercyrelief.org
