Medical emergency aid for earthquake victims on the island of Sumatra – humedica-medical team heading for Indonesia
Since Monday, a humedica–team has been involved in providing medical care for typhoon victims in the Philippines. On Wednesday, a strong earthquake hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra and buried thousands of inhabitants under rubble. Today, humedica is going to send a team to Padang in order to give medical aid to the victims of this severe disaster.
Numerous buildings have collapsed because of the two earthquakes. Foto: Reuters/ Crack Palinggi
The team consists of Dr. Tobias Kees (Tübingen), humedica-physician and managing director of the Institute for Disaster Medicine, Dr. Irmgard Harms who has directed the public health department of Sonthofen for many years, the nurse Liesbeth Schorreels (Leest/Belgien) and coordinator and police sergeant Christian Batscheider (Oberjoch). All of the team members are well-experienced in working abroad and have been equipped with pharmaceuticals, bandaging and medical material for the treatment of 3,000 patients.
They will cooperate with the Indonesian aid agency “Obor Berkat”, which had already been a cooperating partner of humedica after the earthquake in May 2006 on the island of Java. Following immediate medical aid, humedica had then built a school and a health centre as part of a reconstruction aid program.
The recent magnitude 7.6 earthquake on the island of Sumatra rattled the city of Padang, home of 900.000 inhabitants. Heavy seismic shocks led to the collapse of numerous residential buildings, schools, hospitals, mosques and hotels. Thousands of inhabitants lie buried in the rubble.
Search and rescue –efforts in such mountains of rubble turn out difficult due to the lack of appropriate devices. Foto: Reuters/ Stringer/ Indonesia
In the night between Wednesday and Thursday, a second quake of magnitude 6.8 terrified people again. The situation became even worse after this second quake since rain and the lack of recovery devices make search-and-rescue efforts even more difficult.
humedica has provided 20.000 Euros for immediate aid measures to care for injured and diseased people in the disaster area.
To be able to continue our aid measures for the earthquake victims in Sumatra, we would like to ask you for donations which you can either make online under the reference “Earthquake Sumatra” or transfer to the following account:
humedica e.V.
Reference: “Earthquake Sumatra”
Account 4747
Bank code 734 500 00
Sparkasse Kaufbeuren
Thank you very much for any kind of support. We will keep you up to date with more information.