Yogyakarta/Dortmund. The director of NAK-karitativ, Bernd Klippert, has just returned from a several-day trip to the earthquake region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. His first impression: “The situation is truly dramatic!”

Together with District Apostle Alfons Tansahtikno, who is responsible for the District Church of Indonesia, Bernd Klippert toured all eleven local congregations of the New Apostolic Church affected by the disaster. The director of NAK-karitativ estimates that the restoration (repairs or reconstruction) of the destroyed church buildings alone will cost approximately 150,000 Euro. Aid for reconstruction of private homes is estimated at an approximate total of 460,000 Euro, which will also benefit the non-New Apostolic inhabitants of the villages. All of the affected families have been promised an individual, expandable basic building with steel-reinforced concrete pillar construction according to the size of their households and personal structural wishes by the start of the rainy season in October if at all possible. Beyond that, support has also been granted for basic household articles, medical provisions in special cases, and immediate aid for food and clothing. Bernd Klippert estimates the overall total for all reconstruction efforts at approximately 650,000 Euro.

The director of the German aid organisation of the New Apostolic Church describes his impressions as follows: “The employees of the Church administration in Yogyakarta and the responsible individuals in the congregations and districts—as well as many older and younger members—are doing some fantastic volunteer work. Church members from regions that were not affected by the catastrophe have also made themselves available for various aid activities. A number of churches and private properties have already been cleared of rubble.” He adds that it is a good thing the dry season has now come to the affected areas so that the people living in improvised lodgings such as tarpaulins or workers’ huts are not exposed to additional adversities.

Bernd Klippert goes on to report: “School activities have resumed again everywhere and life is slowly beginning to get back to normal. People are able to work in the fields again and can thus ensure they have enough to eat. Efforts to clear debris and salvage reusable building materials (such as wood, bricks, door and window frames, etc.) are also making progress. Here and there the first few walls have already been erected. In all areas where the church buildings only suffered minor damages, the buildings and properties currently serve as emergency lodgings for more seriously affected people. For four weeks a group of volunteer students from the University of Yogyakarta has lodged in one of our churches. Their task is to provide children with anti-trauma therapy and so lead them back into everyday life.”  

You can find out more about the situation in the earthquake region and the donations account at the website of NAK-karitativ.