NGOs support Indonesia – Cash is the best way to help

New Zealand NGOs support Indonesia – Cash is the best way to help

2 October 2018

New Zealand’s international charities are working directly with their partners based on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, to get vital supplies to people in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

Estimates put the number of people affected at over 1.5 million. The emergency response is being hampered by wide-spread power outages, lack of available machinery and fuel shortage.

Fatalities are at 844, and rising. Over 16,000 people have been displaced and have sought safety in 24 camps across the island. Roughly 1,100 schools and colleges have been damaged, affecting over 150,000 students.

Rapid assessments are being undertaken in-country, and immediate needs have been identified. These include search and rescue equipment, water, food, shelter, fuel, safe and dignified burial management, medical supplies and psycho-social support.

The earthquakes shook Central Sulawesi on Friday 28 September. The tsunami then struck coastal regions including Palu and Donggala. A 14-day state of emergency has been declared by the Central Sulawesi administration, and a formal request to the New Zealand government has now been made.

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