Document
29 May 2006
His Excellency
Dr H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President
Republic of Indonesia
Your Excellency,
It was with great distress and sadness that we learned about the tragic 6.3-magnitude earthquake that shook the area around Indonesia's ancient royal city of Yogyakarta on 27 May.
On behalf of the World Council of Churches, I would like to convey our profound and heartfelt condolences to you, Mr President, and the people of Indonesia. Please convey our expression of deepest sympathy and solidarity to the grieving families of the victims and all those affected by this calamity.
I would like to assure Your Excellency that, in fully sharing your grief on the tragedy affecting your country, the World Council of Churches is committed and ready to contribute in any possible manner to overcome the catastrophic impact of this natural disaster and in alleviating the sufferings of the affected victims. The humanitarian aid arm of the World Council of Churches, Action of Churches Together (ACT), has already been operational in affected areas in Yogyakarta since Saturday and is providing assistance to the victims. The WCC and its member churches around the globe will continue to extend all possible humanitarian assistance to the people in affected areas through ACT in the coming days.
We sincerely pray to Almighty God to bestow mercy on all those who are suffering and grant divine comfort and consolation to the bereaved families at this moment of their immense trial and grief.
Yours sincerely,
Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia
General Secretary
