How it all began…

On May 27th, 2006 an earthquake struck just off the coast of central Java.

Although many communities were affected, the worst damage occurred in Bantul regency (pop. 650,000) on the outskirts of Yogyakarta.

The immediate death toll was 5761 and reported injuries were 37,339. The total number of homes destroyed or severely damaged was 610,551. The total number of schools destroyed or badly damaged was 2912.

Although it is more than three months after the earthquake very little progress has been made in rebuilding the affected areas.

In fact, after the first month, the vast majority of aid organizations left even though only half of the injured population had been treated.