The death toll from the earthquake and tsunami on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi has passed 1,400 amid as the scale of the disaster continues to become apparent.
Authorities in Indonesia have now put the death toll at least 1,407 but it is expected to climb yet further with, alongside the widespread destruction in the cities of Palu and Donggala, reports that almost entire rural villages have been swallowed up in mud when the ground liquified during the earthquake.
Thousands have been injured and tens of thousands of people have been displaced as a result of the disaster and roads have been jammed as people attempt to flee the disaster zone. Medical services have been overwhelmed and disease is a growing concern. There have also been reports of looting.
World Vision Australia, which launched an Indonesia Earthquake and Tsunami Appeal, is among NGOs which have started delivering aid including providing emergency meals to children.
Tim Costello, World Vision Australia’s chief advocate, said the organisation had established an emergency feeding centre for children in Palu and was “doing all we can to meet the community’s most urgent needs, especially the children who are always the most vulnerable in times of such upheaval”.
“Clearly this is going to require a massive response for some time to come but making sure that survivors have their immediate needs met with adequate shelter, food and water will be critical over the coming days and weeks,” Mr Costello said.
“We are deeply concerned about the impact of this on children, who are having to cope with terror of aftershocks and struggling to cope with the uncertainty and loss of loved ones.”
World Vision staff member Radika Pinto has reported widespread destruction and chaos in Palu.
“Many of the buildings are cracked and have collapsed. Staff reported seeing a coastline marked with devastation caused by the tsunami,” he said. “Hundreds of people have been injured.”
“Most people are building makeshift shelters in the hills away from the water because they are terrified of another tsunami. Many people are hungry. Clean drinking water is also a huge need because the water pipelines are broken.”
Peter Walton, director of international programs at Australian Red Cross, said this week, that a picture was starting to emerge “of extremely high humanitarian need”.
“We are very concerned for those that have lost loved ones and for those whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed.”
The organisation has also launched an appeal in the wake of the disaster.
“As all Australians are aware, it has been a distressing time for the people of Indonesia following a series of destructive earthquakes in Lombok in August,” Walton said. “Now the people of Sulawesi have been rocked by the double disaster of an earthquake and tsunami.”
“We appeal to all Australians to spare a thought for the people impacted by this terrible tragedy in Sulawesi. We urge people to dig deep and support our appeal to fund relief supplies for those that have lost everything in this dreadful disaster.
