REPORTS
Find out more about how donations were used by DEC member charities and what lessons were learned from this response.
Indonesia Tsunami
Appeal
Indonesia Tsunami
Appeal
The DEC launched an appeal after a series of earthquakes triggered a tsunami in Indonesia in September 2018. This appeal is now closed and all funds have been spent.
A 7-year-old boy receives treatment after being injured in the earthquake in Palu, Indonesia. Image: The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images
Key achievements after six months
59,000
people were provided with emergency shelter in the immediate aftermath
44,800
people gained access to safe drinking water
13,300
people received seeds, tools and equipment to restore their livelihoods
10,400
families received cash to meet their immediate needs
On 28 September 2018 a series of catastrophic earthquakes struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, triggering a tsunami which reached three meters in height. In the aftermath, the DEC’s Indonesia Tsunami Appeal brought life-saving aid to tens of thousands of people.
When earthquakes of up to 7.4 magnitude hit the Indonesian island of Sulawesi the results were devastating. A terrifying tsunami, which reached three metres in places, was triggered, striking the regional capital Palu and nearby coastal settlements of Donggala and Mamuju and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. In some areas the earthquake turned the ground into liquid mud, destroying entire villages.
Tens of thousands of homes were destroyed and entire communities decimated. At least 4,340 people were killed in the disaster, and another 4,400 people were seriously injured.
Dewi*, right, had to be pulled from the mud by her hair as her family fled. Image: Kathleen Prior/DEC
The disaster left 200,000 survivors in need of humanitarian assistance, around a quarter of whom were children. At the start of 2019, 133,000 people were still displaced, with many living in tents and reliant on aid.
DEC member charities and their Indonesian partners worked closely with national authorities to provide shelter and clean water while helping survivors to cope with trauma and rebuild their lives and livelihoods.
Ibrahim and his family in their new home which is still under construction in Donggala, Indonesia. Image: Hariandi Hafid/DEC
'I’M VERY PROUD THAT I AM BUILDING THIS HOUSE'
When the earthquake hit, Ibrahim, 51, and his family managed to escape to higher ground. They returned to find that their home had been destroyed, so DEC member Save the Children gave them material for a temporary shelter.
But living in the shelter wasn't easy, and it flooded during the rainy season. Save the Children gave Ibrahim's family with a cash grant which he is using to build a new house.
“We started to build this house one month ago,” he says, holding back tears. “I’m completely happy right now. I’ve been wishing for a house for a long time. We are very grateful. I’m very proud that I am building this house.”
Your generous donations provided cash grants for 10,000 families like Ibrahim’s, and emergency shelter for 59,000 people.
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