February 18, 2005

GENEVA – A Lutheran World Federation (LWF) assessment team to Indonesia in the aftermath of the devastating tidal waves (tsunamis), says the LWF has a significant accompaniment role in the short and long term.

The report of the seven-member LWF Pastoral Team to Indonesia, January 16-25, has been presented to LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko. The team led by Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) Secretary and Mission Director, Rev. Wayne Zweck included LWF Council members Rev. Dr Jubil R. Hutauruk (Indonesia) and Ms Diadem Depayso (Philippines); Mr Peter Schirmer, executive secretary of the LCA overseas aid and resettlement agency, Australian Lutheran World Service; and LWF staff persons Rev. Ginda Harahap, DMD Area Secretary for Asia; Mr David Mueller, LWF/DWS representative in Cambodia; and Mr Neville Pradhan, DWS program officer for emergencies, refugees and internally displaced persons.

The group visited Banda Aceh and Nias Island, regions of Indonesia severely affected by the tsunamis that swept across the southeast Asian coastline, following an undersea earthquake off Sumatraís coast, 26 December 2004. Indonesia was the worst affected, accounting for around 70 percent of the 220,000 people reported to have died as a result of the catastrophe that affected 11 other countries.

The team explored the potential role of the LWF Departments for World Service (DWS) and for Mission and Development (DMD) both in the short and long term. The group also evaluated the churchesí capacity to effectively respond to the crisis, and how best their programs and peopleís needs could be met through Action by Churches Together (ACT) International, the Geneva-based global network of churches and their partners responding to emergencies worldwide.

The team reports that the largest LWF member church, the Protestant Christian Batak Church (HKBP) with a membership of 3 million, has considerable actual and potential internal capacity to respond to the needs created by the disaster especially through its diakonia department. But it still needs support as ACTís existing capacity is currently stretched in the middle of response. Two LWF member churches – the HKBP, and the Protestant Christian Church (BNKP), with a membership of 338,061 – have experienced direct impact of the tsunamis. Also affected is the Protestant Christian Communion, a non-LWF member church.

LWF Intervention Should Complement Local Partnersí Response

The team recommends that any intervention by the LWF through direct support to its member churches, which also belong to the national council of churches, the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), must complement the role of the PGIís foundation for relief and disaster YTB, and should seek to strengthen these key relationships.

The team members concluded that the response by the government, United Nations and non-governmental organizations, and more specifically through the current ACT partners, shouldóif properly coordinatedóconsiderably address the challenges faced in the tsunami-devastated areas. There appears to be no need for DWS to consider establishing an operational presence in the country and, in any event, it is probably too late to participate in the emergency and post-crisis phases, report.

Facilitating Greater Cooperation among Churches

Providing pastoral support was a key task for the team. Whether they met with church leaders in Medan or Nias, spoketo community leaders, addressed displaced people at a camp, listened to harrowing accounts of unlikely survival, or heard the cries of impotence and frustration, they were intent on sharing the solidarity of the global Lutheran family, the team reports.

With regard to the pastoral needs, they sees a role for LWF/DMD to support the member churches in Nias. It was also felt that DMD could encourage the member churches to look beyond their own congregations and engage with the wider community. The LWF department could also facilitate greater cooperation among the churches, and help them build capacity as they struggle with isolation and lack of education.

Needs of Women, Children Require Specific Attention

The group also assessed the needs of children, large numbers of whom have been orphaned, and women. They report there have been requests for assistance in getting children back to school, and concern has been expressed for orphans. The team was informed that the extended family was not always in a position to care for the latter, and this had led to a proposal for the establishment of alternatives such as child-care centers.

The LWF team identified livelihood support for female-headed households as a major issue. Other related concerns include the need for security and protection; water sources; mother and child health care; and special feeding for lactating mothers and school-age children.

A number of stories put a human face to the statistics and the varying long-term needs including psycho-social support for those suffering trauma, as well as the value of the proposed early warning information centers. In Mandrehe District, Nias Island, the team visited Sisarahili II village, a community, that was severely affected in terms of human loss. They came across a number of people with packed suitcases as they had heard that a volcano was about to erupt and were fleeing to the sea-shore.

Lutheran World Information
Linda Macqueen, editor of The Lutheran magazine of the Lutheran Church of Australia contributed to this article.