Quake: How to help the Indonesian Church

Survivors in quake-hit zones are praying for their dead and that those wounded may be healed. The Bishops' Conference has launched a fund to raise money for stricken zones. We have listed the bank account details for donations.

Yogyakarta (AsiaNews) While local authorities and international agencies struggle to contain the emergency in the region south of Yogyakarta, survivors of the strong quake that struck Java on 27 May have no options left but to pray. An appeal to prayer "for those stricken by this tragedy and for rescue workers" has been made by the Indonesian Bishops' Conference, which has also set up a fund to collect aid.

Residents of one of the districts hardest hit by the quake, Bantul, are praying to God outside the remains of the Church of the Sacred Heart in Ganjuran. Some offer prayers for their friends and relatives killed in the earthquake, others for 75 wounded people lying in tents erected between the church and St Elizabeth hospital. This hospital was built to cater for no more than 16 patients; in two days more than 950 people were treated and at least 1,000 displaced people have found temporary shelter there. Many have been successfully treated and at the moment, the five doctors and 15 nurses present are treating the 75 injured people. Survivors have all said they are "very grateful" to the staff for the treatment received.

Meanwhile, the Crisis Centre of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference (KWI) has launched a fund to raise money to help local structures tackle the emergency. In informing AsiaNews about the fund, the director of the centre, Fr Ismartono, said: "This is a huge tragedy, pray and make others pray for us."

For those wishing to send donations, we list the bank account details:

Donations in dollars

KWI-PKR: ABN AMRO Bank - Jln. Ir. H. Juanda 23, Jakarta - INDONESIA

Acc.(US$) No: 174 - 25544802 USD

Swift Code: abnaidja

Donations in rupees

Konferensi Waligereja Indonesia

BCA Capem Sabang - Jl. Agus Salim No. 57 B Jakarta 10340

Acc. (Rupiah) No: 075 3019577