Document
Letter to H.E. Dr H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia,
29 May, 2006
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
