Indonesia Earthquake Orphans

STAMFORD, Conn., May 30 /PRNewswire/ -- AmeriCares is expanding its
emergency response to the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that hit Indonesia on
May 27, by sending critically-needed shipments of medicines and medical
supplies to the affected areas within the next 24 hours.

Since Saturday, an AmeriCares emergency response team based in
Indonesia has distributed more than 15 tons of relief supplies including
water, food, tents and lanterns to more than 10,000 people in the hard hit
areas of Bantul and Klaten. The AmeriCares team has been collaborating with
local partners in both areas to evaluate the medical needs. The shipments
of medicines are departing from AmeriCares facilities in Amsterdam and
Stamford; they include urgently needed first aid and trauma treatments,
antibiotics and other medicines, IV fluids, orthopedic supplies and other
emergency relief supplies. In addition, AmeriCares is providing enough
water purification treatments to provide 3.5 million liters of clean
drinking water. These supplies will be distributed for immediate use to
AmeriCares local partners.

AmeriCares will also continue to focus additional relief efforts in
Klaten, where nearly 100% of the homes were destroyed, with distributions
of food, water and tents planned for the coming days.

"Shelter, food and healthcare continue to be the most pressing needs in
the affected communities," says AmeriCares Country Director in Indonesia,
David Prettyman. "Heavy rains are continuing to cause hardship for the
survivors and tents are desperately needed in Klaten."

More than 5,600 people were killed in Saturday's disaster, with nearly
10,000 injured and more than 100,000 left homeless.

AmeriCares has responded to earthquakes many times in its 24-year
history, including last October's deadly 7.6 earthquake in Pakistan; the
9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunamis that struck Southeast Asia including
Indonesia in December 2004; and the December 2003, earthquake in Bam, Iran.

To learn more about AmeriCares' relief efforts in Indonesia, or to make
a contribution to the Indonesia Relief Fund, log onto
http://www.americares.org or call 1-800-486-HELP (4357).

AmeriCares is a nonprofit international disaster relief and
humanitarian aid organization, which provides immediate response to
emergency medical needs and supports long-term humanitarian assistance
programs around the world. Since it was established in 1982, AmeriCares has
distributed more than $5 billion in humanitarian aid to 137 countries.

SOURCE AmeriCares

Related links:
http://www.americares.org

•International Adoption Stories© 2007