Crisis watch

Indonesia tsunami response

These hygiene kits will be transported from our warehouse in Makassar, southern Sulawesi, to the Palu/Donggala area in northern Sulawesi - the area most affected by the earthquake and tsunami - on Friday, and our emergency response team plan to begin distribution of these hygiene kits over the weekend.

• Donate now to the Indonesia tsunami appeal

Indonesia tsunami response

Over a week after the initial earthquake and tsunami, many people in the more remote areas report that they have only enough supplies to last around one week. Many people are also continuing to sleep in communal shelters, or even out in the open.

Electricity in some of the affected areas – such as Sigi - is still down, which in turn has affected the water supply, where it is reliant on electric systems. In Donggala, for example, people are sharing dirty water from wells. There are worries that the scarcity of water could lead to increased conflict within communities, as well as greatly increasing the risk of waterborne diseases.

Women, in particular, are responsible for water collection and this situation is likely to add to their burden. The lack of electricity also causes extra worries during the night, especially for women and girls who are particularly vulnerable.

CARE is aiming to support a total of 100,000 people in Donggala, Palu City and Sigi areas – which include some of the more remote communities - with water, sanitation, shelter and livelihood support. CARE Indonesia is working closely with the Indonesian Government and with government agencies as well as other NGOs and local groups to make sure we can provide the best and most relevant assistance to those affected.

Indonesia tsunami response

CARE has begun procurement of key relief items and our Emergency Response coordinator Wahyu Widayanto is now in Palu and travelling to nearby Donggala - where CARE plans to target its response - as part of a joint inter-agency assessment of the impact. Speaking from Palu, Widayanto said:

We are in the process of purchasing simple but life-saving items, like blankets, tarpaulins, water buckets and water purification kits. We will source them locally on the island from our base in Makassar. And we are also looking at creative ways we can bring items by boat to neighbouring islands like Kalimantan, and from there, onwards by plane to Palu. 

We aim to reach some of the communities located further from the busy hub of Palu city itself who have received no assistance to date. These are people living in more remote and difficult to reach areas of Donggala region who are least likely to receive needed assistance, but are some of those in most desperate need of assistance.

• Read more in our press release CARE begins procurement of key relief items for Indonesia tsunami response
• Donate now to the Indonesia Tsunami Appeal

Indonesia earthquake and tsunami

CARE is participating in a joint assessment of people's needs following the earthquake and tsunami in Sulawesi, and we are preparing hygiene kits and emergency shelter kits for distribution in the affected areas in the north of the island.

Reaching the more remote affected areas is particularly challenging in the aftermath of the disaster. Our partners at a local NGO said it took them around 18 hours to reach the more remote areas of Donggala. They report that the biggest worry and tragedy in the area is the numbers of people still lost out at sea after being swept away by the tsunami waves.

Meanwhile, people in the area report that local government has come to a standstill, as officials are also among the victims, and they have not received any assistance since the earthquake happened.

Former CARE staff living in Palu city have commented on the number of pregnant women in need of medical services; those who have sufficient funds are being evacuated to Makassar in the south, while those with less money are still unable to leave.

• Read more eye witness testimony in our story Indonesia tsunami: “We are in urgent need of help”
• Donate now to our Indonesia Tsunami Appeal

Indonesia earthquake and tsunami

The number of people known to have died in the earthquake and tsunami has risen to more than 1,200. More than 48,000 people have been displaced from their homes. These numbers are expected to rise as more affected areas are reached. Up to 1.5 million people may be affected by the disaster.

Survivors are already facing shortages of basic supplies, including water and food. CARE and other humanitarian actors are concerned that if an effective and coordinated humanitarian response is not implemented quickly, there is a significant risk of disease outbreaks and a further deterioration of health conditions.

Donggala, Mamuji and Parigi Moutong have not yet been reached and assessed. These areas were closest to the epicentre and are likely to have been severely affected by both the earthquake and the tsunami. CARE aims to respond in Donggala, which is the most difficult area to reach.

Our emergency response coordinator, health and hygiene expert, gender expert and logistics expert will be travelling to Donggala to carry out an assessment. Operations will be set up first in the CARE Indonesia office in Makassar (south Sulawesi), including preparation of hygiene kits and emergency shelter kits, and then in Donggala.

• Read more in our press release CARE responds to earthquake and tsunami as death toll soars
• Detailed update about the situation in this briefing note from ACAPS and the START Network, of which CARE is a member
• Donate now to our Indonesia Tsunami Appeal