Priest among first to tsunami disaster area

CHURCHES and volunteers have rushed to help survivors of the tsunami that tore through villages in Mentawai Island, West Sumatra.

“We came (to the villages) with whatever we had, especially medicine because there was no hospital,” said Father Fransiskus Xaverius Wio Hurint Pei from the Assumption of Mary Church in Sikakap. He was accompanied by the Charity of Jesus and Mary, Mother of Good Help nuns.

The priest told ucanews.com he had helped bury the dead bodies. “It was very sad….bodies were scattered. Survivors are having problems taking care of themselves.”

Father Agustinus Mujihartono, head of the Padang diocesan Commission for Socio-Economic Development, said Caritas has sent four volunteers – two to the Assumption of Mary Parish and two to the St. Joseph Parish – to help record the survivors and distribute relief supplies.

Full report at ucanews.com