Los Angeles, August 20, 2007 — The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) has responded to recent multiple natural disasters on two Indonesian islands by making two critical donations to Yayasan IDEP, a local non-profit, non-governmental organization providing community-based crisis response.
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One grant will assist the remote mountain village of Kinahrejo, on Java Island, where an earthquake caused massive flooding in 42 villages. More than 70 people died and 4,000 more were displaced and in need of emergency refuge, food and water. This community’s health and hygiene are threatened due to the lack of proper water storage facilities and only having access to hard-to-reach or polluted water sources. The grant allows rescuers to truck in emergency drinking water for 80 families and milk for 125 children while a replacement water system is being built.
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The other grant will help villagers in isolated parts of Sulawesi Island where unusually heavy seasonal downpours in the deforested areas have caused deadly landslides. Seventy people died, hundreds of homes were destroyed, and thousands of displaced people were crowded into makeshift refugee camps. The problem has spread into surrounding areas, affecting nearly 45,000 people and severely taxing rescue resources. TPRF’s grant will help recover non-operable wells, provide emergency fresh water and nutritious food to disaster victims, and re-establish an ongoing local water supply. The grant has already enabled the delivery of emergency supplies of food and water and restored 200 local wells to operating condition.
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Petra Schneider, Executive Director of IDEP, said, “We are so very, very grateful. When I notified the team on the ground about TPRF’s decision, I could hear them cheering through the crackling phone line! I hope you know the massive impact that these grants will have on the people that are being helped. Thank you for your very quick turnaround on these grants. It means everything in an emergency situation.”
On the website www.idepfoundation.org, Yayasan IDEP states that its own mission is “to work with a nationwide network of local partners to get people the assistance they need as quickly as possible.” IDEP’s aim is to ‘help people help themselves’ through community capacity building, demonstrations and practical hands-on education.
The Prem Rawat Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Prem Rawat, an internationally recognized ambassador for peace often referred to as Maharaji. A main focus of TPRF is to help provide clean water and nutritious food for those most in need around the world.
Photos courtesy of: © Yayasan IDEP / BAHARI
The Prem Rawat Foundation was founded by Prem Rawat, known worldwide as Maharaji, whose aim is to improve the quality of life for people in need by providing food, water, medical care, and disaster relief.
Discover more about Prem Rawat, his message of hope and peace, and the humanitarian activities of The Prem Rawat Foundation
