Following a series of small aftershocks that have hit Nias, the Indonesian island of Sumatra since the massive earthquake measuring 8.7 occurred in the region on 28th March, a 6.1 magnitude quake broke out on Monday at 5:29pm local time. The epicentre was about 167 miles south-west of the capital city of Medan, causing residents in the town of Padang to flee their homes, according to the Associated Press.

So far, there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. However, as the region is still in the process of recovering from the last 8.7 magnitude earthquake which claimed more than 600 lives, the need for relief and aid has become desperate. Christian Aid, a UK-based charity, have immediately responded to the latest quake and released a prayer request for the devastated island.

Christian Aid reported that Catholics and Protestants in the capital of Nias, Gunung Sitoli, gathered just before the weekend of 9th April to ask their government to declare a national disaster, in the hope that this would speed up aid distribution. They made a statement to the central government in request of the following immediate actions:

- the disaster must be declared as a national not local disaster, so that more attention and assistance can be allocated.
- to keep the community together, the people of Nias should be persuaded not to evacuate to other places, even if there are problems like lack of food.
- the local and national non-governmental organisations should continue to assist the community.

The protestors also prayed in the house of local leader regent Pandopo Bupati after a candle-lit walk around the city.

Action by Churches Together International (ACT) has spearheaded much of the relief work on the island. It has been supported with funds by three local partners - Yayasan Tanggul Bencana (YTB), Yakkan Emergency Unit (YEU) and Church World Service (CWS).

YTB has now provided more than 80,000 meals through its 200 public kitchens, and is soon to extend its work into the more remote parts of the island, according to Christian Aid.

CWS has provided the generators to power some of YTB’s public kitchens. It also plans to send more tents to the island but is awaiting transport from the mainland.

YEU has extended its work to the north-west and west of Nias, where they have opened two emergency health centres and installed water and sanitation units. It has also provided 10 volunteer counsellors to work with the 284 patients who were evacuated to hospitals in Medan on the mainland.

Yesterday, Mt. Talang volcano erupted in Solok district of Indonesia's West Sumatra island, hot ash flew high into the air and forced the evacuation of hundreds of villagers. Volcano and earthquakes in the past few days have meant it is a time of tremendous trauma to the residents, and appeals for aid to the region have been re-emphasised.