Reaching the homeless of Indonesia
Parnati, along husband and four-day-old baby Ningrum, sleeps under a large tarp with 100 other displaced residents.
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By Sarah Pate
YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia - Her name means blessing from the sun and today, she is four days old. But there is no crib for little Ningrum and no home for her family.
The 6.3 magnitude earthquake that shook Central Java, Indonesia, early Saturday morning leveled thousands of homes – including Ningrum's – located in the remote mountain village of Ngandung. Her family now sleeps under a large tarp with over 100 other displaced villagers who range in age from four days to 85 years.
"We really need a new tent," said Parnati, Ningrum's mother.
"We need everything," said one mother whose 14-year-old son died in the earthquake.
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Within half an hour, Parnati got her wish. Operation Blessing unloaded several large orange tarps from their bus while a group of men from the village tied large bamboo rods together in teepee-like joints – all reminiscent of a country barn raising, yet done with Indonesian flair.
As the men secured the tent with rope and wooden pegs, another young mother looked on; a pained expression filling her face. She was visibly grief-stricken, yet stoic.
Her 14-year-old son was found dead shortly after the earthquake. His bedroom wall had collapsed onto his head.
Residents and OBI volunteers erect a temporary shelter in the village of Ngandung.
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"Bindu just wanted to sleep in before going to school," his mother said. He was in the eighth grade. As she talks, a neighbor keeps her right arm snuggly around the mother's shoulders while gently clutching her left arm. There is a strong presence of empathy among this close-knit community that must now rebuild from the rubble.
"We need everything," the mother continued.
Before Operation Blessing left, they passed out bags of food, rice and emergency aid to the community.
But there was one more gift to be given – only this gift of goodwill came from the hands of a villager. Running to catch up to the caravan of Operation Blessing cars, she dug deep into a large plastic bowl and reaching through our car windows, began to heap generous of portions of cassava or fried potatoes into our hands.
"Thank you, thank you," she cried out.
Operation Blessing staff are distributing over 300 home building units to survivors throughout Yogyakarta. Each unit has enough tools to help five families rebuild their homes.
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A humbled silence filled our car.
"No . . . thank you," replied the team.
Operation Blessing is now helping residents rebuild by distributing over 300 home-building units. Each unit, which includes tools such as a wheelbarrow, lever, hoe, and nails, will equip five families to clean up the debris and rebuild their house. Food for the Hungry has partnered with OBI to sponsor 100 of the units.
HOW YOU CAN HELPVillages like Ngandung in Central Java are desperate for relief. Operation Blessing is on the ground, providing thousands with tarps, food, medical treatment and other aid – but many remote villages still need our support.
You can help ease the suffering by taking part in Operation Blessing's disaster relief efforts for these earthquake victims by making a secure, online donation today. Thank you for reaching out to those in need!
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