On the evening of Tuesday, September 29, an 8.3-magnitude earthquake shook the Pacific ocean and triggered a tsunami which hit the islands of Samoa and American Samoa with waves up to 4.5 metres high. Over 120 people have been killed and thousands left homeless.
Hours later, on Wednesday, September 30, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck just off the coast of western Indonesia, creating panic and causing enormous damage. The death toll has been confirmed at over 450 but thousands more bodies are expected to be hidden under the rubble.
Youth With A Mission is thankful to report than none of our volunteers were injured in these disasters.
Immediate response in Samoa:YWAM leaders in Samoa immediately visited the worst affected areas to offer help. They report that villages on the main island of Upolu have been totally devastated. Hinrich Kranzlin, regional director for the Pacific, passed on the report: “There is nothing left except rocks and debris. Everything has been destroyed.”
Hinrich has explained that our YWAM team in Samoa will work with government relief efforts. The government of Samoa is requesting that people respond with donations to help with rebuilding, as the island does not have the resources to feed and accommodate hundreds of relief workers. YWAM has a staff of 20 on the island and they have found there is much they can do to help. A RescueNet team has also been dispatched to address both the immediate and long-term needs of the affected villages.
Assessing the needs in Indonesia:
YWAM relief and development experts will be working with organizations they have partnered with in past disasters to assist with the devastation in Indonesia.
Reports indicate that many transportation systems have been destroyed, making it difficult to access the most damaged area surrounding the city of Padang, which is home to 900 000 people but the situation is known to be critical. Thousands of people are missing, and thousands more homes, schools, shops and businesses have been destroyed or severely damaged, including the main city hospital and airport. Heavy rain, landslides, fires, floods and a loss of power are complicating the rescue efforts and making the death toll likely to rise significantly.
You can help!
Youth With A Mission is collecting donations for relief efforts in both of these locations. 100% of your giving will go directly to meet the needs of the victims of these disasters.
Send a US dollar check made payable to Youth With A Mission to :
Youth With A Mission Disaster Relief - 
PO Box 26479 -
Colorado Springs, CO - 80936, USA
Please designate your gift for the Samoa relief fund or the Indonesia relief fund. Undesignated donations will be divided evenly between the two.