To response a huge earthquake disaster that occurred in West Java, centered at Tasikmalaya on September 2, 2009, the Disaster Management Committee of Islamic Relief immediately sent its staff to the affected areas and took decision for relief operation. As a part of that initiative team is distributing food and non food items among the 500 households from 04 affected sub districts under Sukabumi district. Distribution has been started from 13 September and will be finished by 17 September 2009. Each affected family is receiving 10 kg of rice, 40 packets of instant noodles, 02 litres of palm oil, milk , one set of hygiene kit, one water bucket and one blanket. All those 500 families are from Lengkong, Nagrak, Pabuaran and Caringin sub districts.  

The happiness of the beneficiary after receiving the aid

Lengkong Village

Islamic Relief disaster management team visited all the affected areas of those 04 sub districts and found some houses were fully damaged and people took shelter in their relative houses, neighbor houses and some are passing their life staying under tent. Local disaster committee West Java noted that 5,189 houses have been damaged while includes 395 totally destroyed as per September 8, 2009 update. Titin, 53, a local woman of Lengkong village, is also a victim, her house was totally destroyed. She now lives with her husband (Mamat, 54), 2 grandchildren (3 and 4) and 1 nephew (4) under an emergency tent next to her original house. “Even though I and my family members live under the tent with limited facilities and income but we always say thanks to Allah SWT because still we are alive. God saved our lives.” She also gave big thanks to Islamic Relief as this is the first time they received any support from outsiders. Titin and her family members are worried how to rebuild their house as they have no any permanent income. They have not enough money to build the house again. They hope government will support them in rebuilding the house.

Titin, 53, her house hit by earthquake and currently stays under the tent

Islamic Relief is also helping 03 communities to ensure the water supply to the residents. The whole water supply system in Caringin Wetan, Ciseuseupan and Talaga villages under Caringin sub disytrict was fully destroyed due to this earthquake. Many people are suffering from diarrhea and 6 persons already died. People are using contaminated water for their bathing and washing the clothes purposes. 
One staff of PUSKESMAS (Integrated Health Center) explained: “The communities always use the same water from their own pond for different needs, such as to wash their motorbike, cooking food, washing dishes etc. The source of the water comes from the drainage and flow into the fish ponds.  

Based on the joint review meeting and decision in between Islamic Relief and sub district officials, Islamic Relief immediately distributed 07 water tank (1000 litres capacity/tank) to the sub district authority. Sub district authority involved municipal water supply department to give them water daily basis as per the whole requirement.