[Updated October 4, 2018] The cities of Palu and Donggala in Central Sulawesi, as well as the surrounding areas, were hammered by both a massive 7.5 earthquake and a 3-meter tall tsunami that struck on Friday, September 28. The true scope of the devastation caused by these twin disasters is still being assessed but the numbers are as staggering as the tragedy is heartbreaking. The latest official death toll is over 1,400, more than 300,000 people are thought to be homeless and up to 2 million might be in urgent need of assistance, including many young children.
Here we’ve put together a list of trustworthy charities that are working to get medical aid, supplies and assistance to those who need it most. Many are international organizations that are already on the ground or working with local partners to meet a whole host of different survivor needs, both short-term and long-term. Most accept credit cards. If you know of any more that you think we should add to this list. please email us at jakarta@coconuts.co.
CARE
Back-to-back natural disasters in #Indonesia have killed more than 1,200 people. Primary needs are clean water, sanitation support, and shelter. How can you help? By donating now: https://t.co/zflDTaUaPO https://t.co/L4oekBqFKj
— CARE (care.org) (@CARE) October 4, 2018
International aid group CARE is focusing its response mainly in the Donggala area, north of Palu city, which is a more difficult area to reach as it was closest to the quake’s epicenter and thus less likely to receive needed assistance.
“Our goal is to get to those survivors to provide life-saving drinking water, shelter and proper sanitation,” explained Helen Vanwel, CARE’s country director in Indonesia.
In addition to their emergency response team, CARE will also be focusing on the specific impacts on women and girls, who are often disproportionately affected in natural disasters of this type and are at increased risk of many types of sexual and gender-based violence. Their voices are often also the least heard when it comes to emergency needs. In the first stage of the response, they will distribute kits targeted at women and girls that include sarongs and sanitary towels among other items.
Emergency family shelter kits including items such as such as tarpaulins sleeping mats, blankets and solar light, will be provided to those who have lost their homes to allow them to survive while the long process of rebuilding begins.
Global Giving
More than 850 people have died and countless are homeless after the powerful earthquake + tsunami struck Indonesia's #Sulawesi island and devastated the communities of #Palu and #Donggala. Support local, community-led relief now. #DisasterRecoveryNetwork https://t.co/KxrIoFpYUe
— GlobalGiving (@GlobalGiving) October 1, 2018
An organization that funnels donations to local organizations, Global Giving has already raised over $175,000 of its $1 million goal to help people in Central Sulawesi. In addition to providing funds to local charities working to provide basic needs like food, water, and medicine, they are also supporting organizations that will provide longer-term recovery assistance to residents.” They have a four-star, 96 rating on Charity Navigator for their transparency and effectiveness.
Mercy Corps
Update from our team on the ground in #Sulawesi, #Indonesia: Many people have now gone days without food or water and others remain trapped in rubble. We're working to provide essential supplies including water, food and hygiene kits: https://t.co/7kI3AmE6oF #tsunami #Palu pic.twitter.com/UWnaOjDgWC
— Mercy Corps (@mercycorps) October 3, 2018
Mercy Corps is a global humanitarian aid organization that already has teams on the ground to respond to the immediate needs of survivors and to provide emergency supplies like clean water, food and basic hygiene kits.
In a statement on Tuesday, Mercy Corps team member Arianto said: “The situation in Palu remains grave. Food and water is scarce and many of the people I have spoken with haven’t eaten in days — and that is the situation in Palu, a city which is receiving support. People at the epicentre of the quake are still largely cut-off from the aid effort.”
Water Mission
Thanks to our partner @FedEx, our water treatment supplies will be headed to #Indonesia soon. Help us bring safe water to those in dire need following the earthquake and tsunami: https://t.co/drMCxRTOj2 #IndonesiaEarthQuake #indonesiatsunami pic.twitter.com/GkmeV9okNV
— Water Mission (@water_mission) October 2, 2018
An NGO that specializes in water access and treatment, they are rushing water treatment supplies to Sulawesi to help ensure that survivors have access to clean drinking water.
Humanity and Inclusion,
Help ensure that #tsunami survivors with serious injuries & disabilities in #Indonesia receive the basic aid & #rehabilitation care they need to gain their strength & independence. Donate now 👉 https://t.co/isdwuqNpgg pic.twitter.com/v9hJjMaNx5
— Humanity & Inclusion U.S. (@HI_UnitedStates) October 1, 2018
A U.S. non-profit that promotes disability rights, Humanity and Inclusion is taking donations for both basic aid and long-term rehabilitation care for survivors in Sulawesi with serious injuries and disabilities.
Oxfam International
Oxfam is on the ground in Sulawesi, Indonesia – and it's now a race against time to save lives following the #IndonesiaEarthquake and #PaluTsunami.
We're aiming to help 500,000 people, working with our local partners.
You can help now→ https://t.co/J2wbDkiCEX pic.twitter.com/HygcC6hrhH
— Oxfam International (@Oxfam) October 3, 2018
The international NGO works with 16 civil society organizations in Indonesia, strengthening the capacity of their alliance to efficiently respond to and manage disaster risk as they did with the Lombok earthquake in July. Most recently they said that they would be scaling up their efforts to try and reach as many as 500,000 people.
Save the Children
STATEMENT : Urgent need to identify children who are lost, shocked and alone six days after tsunami, warns Save the Children https://t.co/UyjjWM3j2o #indonesia #IndonesiaEarthquake #sulawesiearthquake pic.twitter.com/I3i2WiEe8T
— SavetheChildren News (@SaveUKNews) October 3, 2018
Save the Children and its local partner in Indonesia, Yayasan Sayangi Tunas Cilik (YSTC) are working to get humanitarian assistance to the some 46,000 children Indonesia’s disaster agency say are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
Child Protection Adviser Zubedy Koteng, in Palu at the epicentre of the crisis, said in a statement,“I’m particularly worried about children who’ve been separated from their families or are now orphans because their parents have lost their lives in this tragedy. Many of these children are sleeping on the streets because they simply have nowhere to go. It’s hard to imagine a more frightening situation for a child.”
The aid agency and YSTC has a team of staff on the ground in Palu preparing to distribute aid, including shelter kits and hygiene items. They are also as setting up child friendly spaces, which provide a safe space for children to play.
They are also working to establish family tracing and reunification procedures with other agencies to help reunite children with their families, as well as to establish child protection systems and reporting mechanisms to keep children safe.
Kopernik
We are working with our trusted local partners from Central Sulawesi to provide much-needed items to families affected by the tsunami and earthquake in Palu. Your support is urgently needed. Donate now: https://t.co/2YLHG45Xgq pic.twitter.com/wXHOcmKmBe
— Kopernik (@thekopernik) October 3, 2018
Kopernik is a non-profit organization headquartered in Indonesia that is a registered 501(c) organization in the US. They focus on finding innovative solutions to poverty and disaster relief.
They are working with their trusted local partners in Central Sulawesi to distribute solar lights and phone chargers, Nazava XL water filters, as well as food and non-food items, and emergency and shelter kits consisting of items that are responding to the evolving needs on the ground.
Red Cross Indonesia
Mari bersama bantu Warga #Palu dan sekitarnya yang terdampak bencana gempa-tsunami di #SulawesiTengah melalui #PMI. Untuk update giat PMI dalam respon bencana ini silahkan cek di hastag #BantuPaluDonggala #PMISiapBantu pic.twitter.com/NOgi9K4da9
— Indonesian Red Cross (@palangmerah) October 1, 2018
The Indonesian Red Cross has already deployed experts in search and rescue, medical teams, ambulances and water trucks, and has dispatched emergency relief items such as tarpaulins, blankets, jerry cans, sarongs and sleeping mats.
An earthquake & tsunami have devastated Indonesia.
Have you lost contact with family after #SulawesiEarthquake?
We can help: https://t.co/0KvwsKNlfe
*Register yourself as safe.
*Register someone missing.
*Search for missing people.In English & Bahasa Indonesia. Please share. pic.twitter.com/cR7Fk6kOK3
— ICRC (@ICRC) October 3, 2018
In addition, the Red Cross is working to help families and loved ones who are looking to find each other in the disaster area get the word out and reconnect.
UNICEF
Over 1,000 schools are feared to have been damaged or destroyed by the deadly earthquake and tsunami that struck #Indonesia.@unicefindonesia is on the ground, working with the government to support the 1.5m potentially affected people.
Learn more → https://t.co/sV746gGZvw pic.twitter.com/C7lOTbxoZK
— UNICEF (@UNICEF) October 3, 2018
UNICEF is working closely with the Indonesian government to bring help and lifesaving supplies to children and families. They are focusing their efforts on reuniting children with their families, feeding the youngest and most vulnerable, providing clean water through the deployment of several mobile water treatment plant units to the affected areas and providing mental support to children in the disaster zones.
World Vision
#BREAKING: New World Vision drone footage shows the extent of earthquake and tsunami damage in #Palu. We're desperately working to reach 80,000 people who need our help.
Find out how you can help today: https://t.co/hxoHJD2840#IndonesiaEarthquake | #IndonesiaTsunami pic.twitter.com/3Ibi9XQgBU
— World Vision (@WorldVision) October 3, 2018
World Vision has pre-positioned relief supplies in Palu, the Central Sulawesi capital, which includes hygiene supplies and kits for families and children. The international NGO will focus its disaster response on food, shelter, nutrition, child protection, water and sanitation. They already have several projects in Central Sulawesi province serving more than 5,000 sponsored children.
For more local donation options, please check out this article by the Jakarta Post “How you can help Palu earthquake victims”
