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Save the Children Provides Relief to Families Affected by Massive Quake in Indonesia
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The massive 8.4 – magnitude quake, with an epicentre in the Indian Ocean, rattled the Sumatra Island on September 13, 2007, striking nearest to Bengkulu Province on the western coast. Thousands of houses and public buildings, including schools have been affected. Telephone lines and electricity networks have been cut off in some parts of the city and strong after shocks are still occurring.
In the initial response, Save the Children is focusing on meeting immediate needs especially of those displaced by distributing 2,000 tarpaulins and 2,000 plastic mats to help provide temporary shelter for children and their families. In addition, other urgently needed relief items are being sent to Mukomuko from our warehouse in Yogyakarta. The supplies include 2,000 hygiene kits, 1,000 shelter kits and 58 school tents. These supplies will be distributed over the coming days.
The hygiene kits and shelter kits contain materials to assist families living under temporary conditions with soaps, washing powder and equipment to repair their houses. The school tents will allow for the speedy return of school activities when the children get back in school.
Michael Novell of Save the Children in Indonesia said: "Children suffer most in any emergency. Children have lost their homes, personal belongings and are vulnerable to diseases due to living under temporary conditions. Save the Children launched a rapid response to the emergency and stands ready to scale up our operation if the situation worsens."
You can help Save the Children respond to emergencies that put at great risk the survival, protection, and well-being of significant numbers of children. By contributing to the Children’s Emergency Fund, you enable us to respond immediately to children and families who urgently need our help when disasters strike.
