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YWAM at work after the quake in Indonesia

On Monday 5 October, five European RescueNet members left from the Netherlands to join with other international RescueNet (RN) members in disaster response in Padang, Sumatra. RescueNet is a global network of rapid response mercy ministry teams trained through YWAM. Over the next few weeks this team will try meet some of the overwhelming needs of those directly suffering from the earthquake which destroyed a large part of the city and has killed over 5,000 people.

The expected emphasis of this deployment will be medical. The RescueNet team is also trained to do light search and rescue, trauma counselling, logistical support, and other acts of mercy.

Barely a day before the departure of the European team, the third European RescueNet disaster response training was concluded. Participants came from Switzerland, Germany, England, the Philippines, Sweden and the Netherlands. Other RN Teams are based in Australia and the USA. The last official RescueNet deployment was in response to the 2005 Pakistan Kashmir earthquake. For European RescueNet members this is the first disaster deployment. They will be joining RN teams from Australia.

Rescue and restoration efforts by YWAM volunteers in Indonesia also continue and donations for the purchase of essential items are badly needed.

For more information on RescueNet and to donate to the team, visit: www.rescuenet.org.au



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