OneWorld.net (U.S.)

A powerful earthquake struck central Java in Indonesia on Saturday May 27, 2006, injuring and killing thousands of people and leaving chaos and destruction in its wake. An estimated 35,000 buildings have been destroyed, and as many as 100,000 people may be homeless, with several thousand feared dead.

Electricity and communication have been cut in many areas, access to food and basic supplies is difficult, and there is urgent need for emergency workers and supplies.

The government of Indonesia has declared a three-month emergency period, and estimates that nearly $100 million will be needed to provide food, health care, and shelter, and then start reconstruction.

WHILE INTERACTION DOES NOT ACCEPT DONATIONS, the InterAction members listed here are accepting contributions for assistance they or their affiliates are providing to those affected by the earthquake in Indonesia.

InterAction has also developed guidelines on the most appropriate ways to help those affected by overseas disasters.

InterAction is a coalition of more than 160 US-based private relief, international development and refugee assistance organizations. InterAction members have agreed to abide by a set of standards to ensure accountability to donors, professional competence and quality of service.

A few of the InterAction members providing assistance are:

Lutheran World Relief Lutheran World Relief (LWR) has committed an initial $25,000 to relief efforts in the aftermath of the Indonesia earthquake. LWR and ACT have already begun to assist survivors with medical care and emergency food provisions. Funds will be channeled through the global aid alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) of which LWR is a member. LWR's country representative to Indonesia, Elhadi Abdalla, is currently in Yogyakarta, the hardest-hit-area, coordinating with Government of Indonesia officials, with other relief agencies, and with ACT coordinating members on preparing a response. Indonesia Earthquake P.O. Box 17061 Baltimore, MD 21298-9832 800-LWR-LWR2 www.lwr.org

Mercy Corps At this stage, Mercy Corps is providing affected communities with temporary shelter supplies, as there are an estimated 200,000 people made homeless by the earthquake. Indonesia Earthquake Fund Dept. NR PO Box 2669 Portland, OR 97208-2669 800-852-2100 www.mercycorps.org

Oxfam America Oxfam and its local partner organizations are providing emergency shelter materials, clean water and sanitation facilities, hygiene kits, and sarongs to survivors of the earthquake. Indonesia Earthquake Fund PO Box 1211 Albert Lea, MN 56007-9865 800-77-OXFAM www.oxfamamerica.org

A full list of organizations providing assistance can be found here.