JDC responds to Indonesia tsunami, earthquake

Following the deadly earthquake and tsunami that struck Indonesia’s Sulawesi island on Friday, Sept. 28, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is providing emergency medical services, critical supplies, and psychosocial support with one of its longstanding local partners. Additionally, JDC’s Indonesia representative, in cooperation with its global disaster response team, is engaging in ongoing needs assessments and working together with local organizations to help ensure best practices among responders to protect groups especially vulnerable in disasters including women, children, and the elderly. With a presence in Indonesia since the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, JDC is raising funds for immediate and long-term support in the face of a spiking death toll and widespread devastation impacting millions. To support JDC’s Indonesia relief efforts, visit: http://www.jdc.org/indonesiarelief.

“Our hearts go out once again to the people of Indonesia, who have suffered two tragic disasters in recent months and find themselves in need of immediate care and tools to better prepare themselves for future crises,” said JDC CEO David M. Schizer. “As Jews around the world gather in the coming days to celebrate the conclusion of our High Holiday season, we are keenly aware of our blessings, our responsibility to repair a broken world, and the need to act now to deliver hope to those facing so much despair.”

Last month, JDC responded to the tragic earthquake in Lombok by providing survivors critically-needed shelter, food, medicine, electricity, and psychosocial support. This response built off of JDC’s work in Indonesia providing direct aid through local partners and, in a major focus, strengthening disaster risk reduction and response capabilities over the last 14 years. Those JDC efforts culminated in a just-completed flagship program, funded by USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, that trained local communities in disaster management and psychosocial services.

JDC’s disaster relief programs are funded by special appeals of the Jewish Federations of North America and tens of thousands of individual donors to JDC. In the last year, has responded to disasters and crises in Guatemala, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Mexico, the Caribbean, Sri Lanka, and East Africa and has continued its post-disaster development work in Nepal and Haiti. JDC also provides ongoing humanitarian aid to refugees in Europe and the Middle East.

JDC relief activities are coordinated with the U.S. Department of State, USAID, the Israeli government and the United Nations, as well as local and international partners.