Jewish community praised for ‘tremendous support’ for WJR’s Indonesia appeal

World Jewish Relief has praised the initial response of the Jewish community for its Indonesia appeal after a huge earthquake and tsunami flattened the island of Sulawesi on 28 September, killing more than 2,000 people.

Up to 5,000 people are still missing, with 67,000 homes destroyed and thousands still desperate for food, water and medicine, after the 7.5 magnitude quake liquefied the ground, and the resulting wave reaped further misery on isolated towns.

WJR said this week that Jews in the UK had shown “tremendous support” which had allowed it to begin the process of providing emergency kits and essential non-food items, but more donations were needed to complete the humanitarian mission.

The charity is now working with a “trusted local partner” which had gained access to two of the worst hit areas – Donggala and Sigi, the latter located on the outskirts of the city of Palu. This week, WJR’s humanitarian programme manager flew out to coordinate logistics.

Money donated to WJR’s Indonesia Tsunami Appeal will provide blankets, mattresses, flashlights and toolkits, alongside essentials such as nappies, clothes and sanitary products.

“The post bag has been full as people have sent in donations,” said WJR chief executive Paul Anticoni. “We have been overwhelmed by the tremendous support from the UK Jewish community. This enables us to launch an effective response and help people whose lives have been devastated by the earthquake and tsunami.”

A wide range of Jewish organisations have backed the appeal, including the Board of Deputies, Jewish Leadership Council, JW3, Liberal Judaism, London Jewish Forum, Masorti Judaism, Movement for Reform Judaism, Office of the Chief Rabbi, S&P Sephardi Community, Tzedek, United Synagogue, UJS and the Zionist Youth Council, which comprises Jewish youth movements.

See more here: https://www.worldjewishrelief.org/ways-to-donate/appeals/797-indonesia-earthquake-and-tsunami

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