Global perspective Human stories

UNICEF rushes emergency supplies to Indonesian flood victims

UNICEF rushes emergency supplies to Indonesian flood victims

media:entermedia_image:1c674f39-8d3b-4a37-9232-c731d895cddc
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is airlifting emergency supplies of hygiene equipment and water containers to flood affected districts in the Indonesian province of South Sulewesi, where over 7,500 people have been made homeless, more than 200 people have died and 135 people are missing.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is airlifting emergency supplies of hygiene equipment and water containers to flood affected districts in the Indonesian province of South Sulewesi, where over 7,500 people have been made homeless, more than 200 people have died and 135 people are missing.

“With 18 schools heavily damaged and another nine schools slightly damaged, most of them elementary, we have to also look closely at providing emergency educational support,” UNICEF country representative Gianfranco Rotigliano said, noting that at least 30 per cent of those affected were children.

Three UNICEF staff members are on the ground conducting assessments for the future needs of the people, including emergency measles and tetanus vaccination campaigns and temporary shelter. Hundreds of houses have been heavily damaged or swept away by the flash floods.

The supplies the Agency is providing include 5,000 personal hygiene kits, 10,000 jerry cans, and 1,100 water purification vials, designed to provide 1,000 families with clean water and hygiene materials.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that two districts were also hit by landslides. Little is known about the condition of survivors in the mountains as mudslides have blocked road access to the region, it said. The estimated total loss due to flash floods and landslides is put at over $55 million.