Save the Children is helping survivors of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Indonesia.
Concerns for Children After Powerful Magnitude 7.5 Earthquake and Tsunami Hits Indonesia's Sulawesi
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (Sept. 29, 2018) – An emergency response team from Save the Children’s local partner has deployed to central Sulawesi in Indonesia after a powerful earthquake struck about 5pm local time yesterday.
The magnitude 7.5 quake triggered a tsunami with waves reportedly up to three meters high near the island’s capital Palu, and was followed by several large aftershocks, forcing local residents to sleep outside for fear of buildings collapsing.
“Early reports show a large tsunami hitting coastal communities in central Sulawesi with some force, causing buildings to collapse and cutting power to coastal communities. Our team is responding by providing emergency supplies and hygiene kits to families affected by the quake,” said Save the Children’s Program Implementation Director, Tom Howells from Jakarta. “We are also planning to set up Child Friendly Spaces in shelters for those who have lost their homes, to ensure families and children are safe and have the supplies they need, like diapers and cribs.”
Save the Children, which operates through local partner Yayasan Sayangi Tunas Cilik in Indonesia, has an office in southern Sulawesi. “Once we are past the immediate aftermath of this disaster, we stand ready to support the government in repairing, re-building and re-opening schools as soon as possible,” Howells said.
Save the Children has been working in Indonesia since 1976, and has a long history responding to humanitarian disasters in the country, including the recent earthquakes in Lombok and the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.
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