The disaster had struck the island on the 28th of last month. Two weeks later the scene seemed unchanged, as if time had stopped on that day. Our group was greeted with roads steeped in darkness and heavy rainfall. Daily life was broken by periods of darkness due to repeated power outages, and the lingering fear of aftershocks. The roads were quiet. Survivors had taken refuge in shelters set up here and there. They needed to stay in those places, to benefit from the distribution of relief goods.
Rev. Ryu Je-guk (55), the only Korean missionary in Palu, commented, “It isn’t the rainy season, so this torrential rain also looks like a natural disaster… Since the earthquake, the people of Palu are in a state of suffering, living each day in deep trauma.”
The following day, the investigation team went to the village of Semanggi, 35 km south of downtown Palu, to hand out relief goods. Located in the interior of a mountain district, this village had not been reached by government assistance. The team provided the residents with 1 ton of relief supplies, including rice, ramyeon, cooking oil, salt and sugar. Village headman Riduwan (52) thanked the visitors again and again for their help.
Korean Diakonia Secretary-general Cheon Yeong-cheol, who led the investigation team, said, “I’ve visited many countries hit by disaster, but I’ve never seen anywhere so completely laid waste as Palu… Following this visit, Korean Diakonia and KCC will initiate fundraising work together with the Korean churches, to support of the disaster victims in Palu and send them even greater love.”
Article and photo by reporter Jang Chang-Il (jangci@kmib.co.kr), from Palu (Indonesia), with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)
Full Story in Korean:
지진·쓰나미 피해 막막한데… 전염병 공포까지 엄습: 한교봉·한교총 실사단, 인도네시아 팔루 현장 방문 르포
