OVERVIEWDistributions of CRS and Caritas relief supplies are underway for thousands of families in Indonesia following the devastating 7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck the island of Sulawesi on September 28, triggering a deadly tsunami. The disaster caused more than 2,073 deaths, and over 10,000 people were seriously injured. Potentially, 2 million people have been affected across 85 districts, and over 87,000 are displaced in evacuation centers or informal camps, with many more staying with relatives or friends.

Palu

SULAWESI

I N D O N E S I A

A U S T R A L I A

Response continues following Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami

EMERGENCY APPEAL 19 OCTOBER 2018

Catholic Relief Services and our local Catholic partners are continuing our response on Sulawesi in Indonesia, which was hit by an earthquake and tsunami that have devastated the northern part of the island, killing over 2,073 people and leaving at least 87,000 homeless.

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A displaced family receives household items from CRS in Palu, Indonesia. Photo by Yusef Wahil for CRS

HOW TO HELP To support the relief effort in Indonesia:

n Give online: crs.org/help-indonesia

n Give by phone: 1-877-HELP-CRS

n Give by check: Catholic Relief Services P.O. Box 17090 Baltimore, Maryland 21297-0303

“ I don’t know how long will we stay here under the tent, but we’re together with other neighbors. We are thankful for so many kind people helping and caring of us.”

Umi Sumbajono, 55, recipient of CRS/Caritas hygiene supplies in Jono Oge village

Shops, homes, mosques and hotels collapsed, were swept away or suffered extensive damage. At least 67,000 houses were damaged or destroyed. Families urgently need clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), shelter and further infrastructure repair. Many have lost everything.

While logistics constraints initially hampered recovery efforts, most roads in Palu are now passable, and access to outlying areas has improved. Services in Palu are slowly resuming, electricity and telecommunications have been reestablished across much of the area, and fuel is available. Continued congestion at Palu airport is slowing provision of emergency relief, reinforcing the need for a local procurement strategy.

The Governor of Sulawesi has extended the emergency response period until October 26, but humanitarian access to affected areas remains restricted and international nongovernmental organizations need authorization to send staff in.

CONTINUED CRS AND CARITAS RESPONSERelief operations are well underway as CRS emergency responders work closely with Caritas Indonesia (Karina) to access hard-to-reach areas and meet the urgent needs of the most vulnerable. Local CRS staff members are among the most seasoned in responding to crises, given the cyclical nature of disasters in their country, and are working tirelessly to get aid to those most in need. CRS hopes to assist 191,000 people in the next 3 months.

In nine priority areas across the districts of Palu, Sigi and Donggala, CRS is aiming to provide immediate relief to over 10,000 families. This will take place through direct distribution of supplies or, in areas where markets are functioning, through cash assistance that allows people the flexibility to buy the items most needed by their families. When possible, CRS prioritizes a market-based approach that invests in and engages local vendors and markets. Cash assistance helps to support local business by ensuring people can buy items directly from nearby shop owners rather than receiving them from elsewhere. And, it helps to quickly inject cash into the local economy that desperately needs to recover.

While some materials are available locally for people to buy, other urgent supplies need to be brought in from elsewhere for distribution. CRS has procured essential food and household items for 6,000 families, as well as 9,900 tarpaulins, and distributions are ongoing. CRS will also assess the availability of corrugated iron sheets for roofing in Palu and Makassar, and whether communities need tools to support their clean-up efforts.

To facilitate access to water, CRS is procuring water tanks. The rehabilitation and cleaning of wells have been identified as priorities for improving access to drinking and washing water, but closer assessments of the available system are needed to inform decision-making.

CRS is mapping out a long-term emergency relief and recovery strategy with the Caritas team, and will continue to work closely with communities for their safety, dignity and long-term recovery in the months to come.

A resident talks with a CRS staff member in Bobo village in Sigi, Central Sulawesi, where over 300 homes are unlivable since the earthquake. Photo by Mohammed Hafiz for CRS