UNICEF is concerned for safety of thousands of children following Sulawesi tsunami

Jakarta, 1 October 2018 – Three days after the earthquake that shook the island of Sulawesi and the devastating tsunami that swept through Palu City, UNICEF says the situation for tens of thousands of children remains extremely precarious in the days ahead. Children in Palu, Donggala and other affected sites in Sulawesi need urgent help to recover. Many have lost their loved ones, homes, neighbourhoods and all things familiar in their lives.

 “With each new report about this devastating earthquake and tsunami, our concern increases for the safety of children in Palu, Donggala and other sites hit by the disaster. UNICEF Indonesia, in partnership with the Government, is doing everything it can to respond to this emergency, which hit the country just one month after another powerful earthquake resulted in hundreds of deaths in Lombok.”

says OIC for UNICEF Indonesia Representative Amanda Bissex.

The government has confirmed that as of 1 October, 844 people are dead, 632 injured and 90 missing with 48,025 internally displaced (IDPs) and around 1.5 million potentially affected. It is likely that these figures will increase as more areas become accessible and the Government conducts more assessments.

Based on initial assessment with partners on the ground immediate needs include evacuation and management of injured, medical and health services including referral services, water and sanitation, food and non-food items and emergency shelter. More than 1,000 schools are feared to be impacted, having a direct impact on around 19 per cent of the students in Central Sulawesi.

Based on UNICEF’s experience in Indonesia, items needed will include, food (ready-to-eat meals), water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), primary healthcare including first aid, medicines, and female hygiene kits.  In addition, services for identification and referral for separated and unaccompanied children, prevention of family separation, psychosocial support and education need to be established as quickly as possible to return children to normalcy.

UNICEF is appealing for USD5million to cover education, health, nutrition, sanitation and child protection needs for the current emergency as well as the lasting impact of the Lombok earthquake.

Donations can be made at unicef.id/tsunamisulawesi