CRS worker: Need drives fasting Indonesians to help quake victims

Published: 2007-09-13

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Though Indonesian Muslims may be hungry, thirsty and tired from Ramadan fasting, the "overwhelming need" to respond to victims of mid-September earthquakes is driving Indonesians to help, said a church aid worker. Muslims already are sacrificing during the monthlong fast, and now they will be helping people who have suffered from the damage caused by the two earthquakes that hit the island of Sumatra within 24 hours, said Rich Balmadier, Catholic Relief Services' Indonesia country director based in Jakarta. Though Muslims may be physically less comfortable during Ramadan because they fast each day until sundown, from an organizational standpoint Ramadan will not affect emergency response, Balmadier told Catholic News Service in telephone interviews Sept. 12 and 13. Balmadier said Sept. 13 he was still acquiring and assessing information and the full extent of damage caused by the quakes was not yet known.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .