To date, teams have treated more than 2,000 patients and distributed 3,000-plus relief packages as well as shelter kits and other aid.

PADANG, Indonesia - Cut off villages are receiving much-needed aid thanks to a team of more than 40 relief workers.

Since Saturday, a team of doctors, nurses, paramedics – including medical personnel from German partner Humedica – have helped expand OBI’s relief efforts to reach 18 villages identified by the Indonesian government as having not yet received any help.

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"We've been able to get in a large number of people — a lot of feet on the ground — and immediately roll out to some of the worst-hit areas that have received no attention at all,” said OB Indonesia director Mark McClendon who is organizing relief efforts.

Within 12-14 hours of the devastating 7.6-magnitude earthquake in West Sumatra, OBI's first medical teams had deployed and were providing emergency medical relief to victims.

A team of more than 40 OB relief workers are on the ground bringing emergency medical care to victims.

Mission Aviation Fellowship, a long-standing partner with Operation Blessing since the 2004 Tsunami, flew in additional OB medical teams into Padang where OBI has set up a base camp of relief in the middle of town.

In Pariaman Selatan, OB teams worked into the night treating quake victims from three villages who are sleeping in the local mosque. Many of them are reportedly suffering from various forms of trauma.

"It’s not just a matter of bandaging wounds and giving people medical help," McClendon said. "There’s so much fear and trauma mixed in with it. It was the sheer magnitude of this earthquake that seems to have created huge amounts of trauma."

To date, teams have treated more than 2,000 patients and distributed 3,000-plus relief packages which contain 3-4 day's worth of food, water and emergency provisions to sustain a family of four. Families have also received shelter kits with mattresses, blankets and other materials to provide temporary shelters to victims.

This disaster comes on the heels of OBI’s continued relief efforts for typhoon victims in the Philippines. To date, teams have reached more than 97,000 Filipino victims with relief such as emergency food, water, clothes, medical care and cleanup assistance.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

 

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