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Quake survivors flock to churches

Posted on: Saturday, 3 June 2006, 22:31 CDT

By Lewa Pardomuan

YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters) - Christian survivors of the quake that ruined areas on Indonesia's Java island prayed outside damaged churches on Sunday, just over a week after the disaster left more than 6,000 people dead.

International aid agencies have fanned out into the worst-hit areas where tens of thousands have been left homeless and many injured victims need help. However, Indonesia's foreign minister said no additional foreign medical aid was necessary and groups should focus on reconstruction.

The government's official death toll has remained at around 6,200 for the past two days.

Churchgoers in the ancient royal city of Yogyakarta, 440 km (270 miles) east of Jakarta, chose to hold Sunday mass outside because although some churches were still standing, most bore visible cracks on their walls and spires.

"I have traveled through the scenes of the incident and I know that the disaster has made many people suffer. I am here now to pray for safety," said Purasto who was kneeling under a tree in front of his church with his wife.

At the aged Santo Antonius church, Sri Yanto said she had listened to a sermon that called the congregation to stay patient during difficult times.

"The pastor told us to get close to God," she said in front of the damaged church.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation and Muslims make up the majority in Yogyakarta city.

However, 17 percent of the city's half a million population follow Christianity and many of its leading hospitals and schools are Catholic institutions.

HEALTH THREATS

Hospitals in the region were overwhelmed by the influx of quake-related patients in the early days after the quake but that problem has been lifted due to the quick response from local and international medical groups.

"Principally, the critical period has passed. However, there is the potential of new health problems due to the environment because of the collapsed houses. Breathing ailments and diarrhoea are indeed threats," Yogyakarta provincial secretary Bambang Susanto Priyohadi told Reuters.

More than 20,000 people had to be treated in hospitals after the quake but there were more than 130,000 outpatients, the World Health Organization said.

Hospitals and clinics have told patients to return to their villages but many quake survivors said they would prefer to stay because they have no proper place to live.

Many throughout the region have been living in flimsy shelters at the sites of their former homes, now piles of rubble.

The risk of infectious disease remains high because of the crowded nature of the quake-hit area.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said the quake zone was no longer in need of extra foreign medical help.

"My impression is additional presence of foreign medical volunteers is not needed. It has been enough. We can suggest that if they want to help, they should focus on rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts," he told Jakarta-based Radio Elshinta.

The United Nations has been key in supplying water, food and material to the victims of May 27 magnitude 6.3 quake and announced plans for a six-month $103 million relief program.

The Asian Development Bank has offered a $60 million package of grants and soft loans to Indonesia earmarked at helping the quake relief and reconstruction efforts.

(additional reporting by Michael Perry)

Source: REUTERS

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