Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami response ongoing

Twelve weeks on from the devastating earthquake and tsunami which struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, The Salvation Army continues to serve communities and families affected.

The buildings damaged in the quake, as well as the subsequent liquefaction and landslides, killed more than 2,000 people and displaced tens of thousands. Many are still living in camps for displaced people, where The Salvation Army is providing ongoing support.

The Salvation Army responded quickly when the earthquake struck on 28 September 2018 and has been very active ever since. From five community kitchens, officers and volunteers served more than 13,000 meals in the first two weeks alone. Additional parcels of emergency food supplies were delivered to almost 5,000 families and more than 8,300 patients have been assessed and treated by The Salvation Army’s hospital and mobile clinics near the epicentre.

More than 1,500 children and young people have been assisted through trauma healing sessions and counselling continues to be provided in conjunction with the mobile clinic.

Availability of clean water and sanitation remains a significant challenge, with many people required to undertake multiple trips to the water stations in order to acquire sufficient supplies. The biggest hurdle in this regard is the scarcity of warehouse space in Palu following the tsunami, meaning that almost all supplies are having to be driven in from Central Sulawesi, mostly from Makassar in the south.

Preparations for further distributions of essential items to the temporary camps and villages which were severely damaged are almost complete. Critical assets – including ambulances – have now been replaced. In the coming weeks and months, major infrastructure reconstruction will take place, both to address the immediate need for shelter and to recommence school operations.

Funding has been generously provided by donors around the world, with major projects funded by The Salvation Army’s United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Slovakia Territory. The New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory has provided substantial funds for ongoing health and medical responses.