Indonesian Scouts help in three natural disasters

Three major natural disasters hit Indonesia in October 2010 claiming hundreds of lives. First, a flash flood in Wasior District, West Papua Province on 5th October 2010. Hundreds of Scouts from the West Papua Provincial Headquarters, in collaboration with the local government, helped the survivors in the area.

Second was the tsunami that devastated Mentawai Islands Regency in West Sumatra Province. In response, the West Sumatra Scouts and the local Indonesian Red Cross Society were among the first rescuers coming to the islands.

Third, Mount Merapi (2,968 meters) in the border of Central Java Province and Yogyakarta Province erupted on 26th October 2010. Within hour, the first group of Rovers from Klaten District Headquarters went for the rescue and brought survivors to temporary shelters.

From the foot of Mount Merapi, Adi Pamungkas (Gerakan Pramuka National Commissioner) and Ilham Ahmad (Gerakan Pramuka NHQ Staff) reported, that until today, the Rovers from several Scout Districts are in rotation, helping the survivors at the Shelters Kitchen. The Scouts serve food three times a day to over 1,400 survivors. Some Rovers are deployed at the community hospital and at the Children Trauma Healing Center, helping the children deal with the condition.

Berthold Sinaulan
APR, Honorary Correspondent