Tsunami in Indonesia: “More than 190,000 people need assistance”
A powerful earthquake followed by a tsunami struck the centre of the Indonesian archipelago on 28 September, killing more than 1,400 people and injuring more than 2,500. HI, which sent a support team of experts to Indonesia, is coordinating its response with local organisations.
Indonesian men search for a family member at their damaged house in the Balaroa village in Palu, on October the 1st, 2018, after an earthquake and tsunami hit the area on September 28th. | © AFP PHOTO/ADEK BERRY
Humanity & Inclusion (HI) has just sent several experts to Indonesia, to provide immediate support to more the survivors in need of immediate assistance following the earthquake and tsunami that shook the island on 28 September. Many hospitals have been damaged and more than 2,500 people have been injured.
As the situation begins to stabilise and access to the worst affected areas becomes possible, the number of victims continues to rise.
“We have sent a sizeable team of emergency experts to help" says Fanny Mraz, director of HI's emergency teams.
“HI’s added value when patients are arriving in hospitals in large numbers is to provide emergency rehabilitation in order to prevent irreversible damage, including the onset of permanent disabilities. We also make sure than the patients have a psychological support, because this type of situation can be traumatizing”.
"We are not working alone: two members of our local partner organisations are travelling to the Palu region to assess needs," she continues. “To provide the best possible assistance to victims, it is important to work with local medical teams, already present in hospitals, in order to treat the many casualties.”
HI has worked in the country since 2005, where it regularly provides support to victims of natural disasters. Its members organise disaster prevention workshops and workshops to improve community resilience.
