Heart to Heart responds to flood victims in Indonesia

OLATHE, Kan./February 8, 2007 — Heart to Heart International Inc., a leading humanitarian organization, today announced that it will provide aid and assistance to flood victims in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta and its surrounding region, where more than 300,000 people have been displaced by torrential rainfall.

“Forecasters are predicting another week of heavy rain for this world area, so we are alerting our disaster-relief network and preparing to respond,” said Jeff DeGraffenreid, Heart to Heart’s vice president for Global Crisis Response. “We expect to see a half-million or more people displaced by flooding, which is already bad in many parts of Jakarta.”

Heart to Heart’s humanitarian partners in Indonesia reported that many parts of the capital city are now underwater and the continual rainfall is forcing thousands more to higher ground.

In response, Heart to Heart is in the process of sending immediate aid from its Forward Response Centers in the Philippines and the United States. The organization anticipates organizing additional shipments of aid after its advance team has assessed the situation. Heart to Heart personnel are already on their way to the region.

Heart to Heart is exploring the possibility of deploying medical volunteers to the region, if necessary. Qualified physicians and nurses with valid passports may inquire at 913-764-5200.

The organization needs more personal-hygiene kits, which it sends to disaster zones around the world. These care kits can be assembled by anyone, anywhere and can be sent to Heart to Heart. Directions for assembling the kits are online at Heart to Heart’s website.