UNICEF is responding to the needs of the thousands of children affected by the Sulawesi tsunami - needs Canadians' help urgently

JAKARTA, Oct. 1, 2018 /CNW/ - Three days after the earthquake that shook the island of Sulawesi and the devastating tsunami that swept through Palu City, UNICEF says the situation for tens of thousands of children remains extremely precarious in the days ahead. Children in Palu, Donggala and other affected sites in Sulawesi need urgent help to recover. Many have lost their loved ones, homes, neighbourhoods and all things familiar in their lives.

"With each new report about this devastating earthquake and tsunami, our concern increases for the safety of children in Palu, Donggala and other sites hit by the disaster. UNICEF Indonesia, in partnership with the Government, is doing everything it can to respond to this emergency, which hit the country just one month after another powerful earthquake resulted in hundreds of deaths in Lombok." says OIC for UNICEF Indonesia Representative Amanda Bissex.

The government has confirmed that as of 1 October, 844 people are dead, 632 injured and 90 missing with 48,025 internally displaced (IDPs) and around 1.5 million potentially affected. It is likely that these figures will increase as more areas become accessible and the Government conducts more assessments.

Based on initial assessments with partners on the ground, immediate needs include evacuation and management of the injured, medical and health services including referral services, water and sanitation services, provision of food and non-food items, and emergency shelter. More than 1,000 schools are feared to be affected, directly impacting approximately 19 per cent of students in Central Sulawesi.

Based on UNICEF's experience in Indonesia, items needed for distribution to affected children and families include food (ready-to-eat meals), water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) supplies, and primary healthcare provisions including first aid, medicines, and female hygiene kits. In addition, services for identification and referral for separated and unaccompanied children, prevention of family separation, psychosocial support and education need to be established as quickly as possible to return children to normalcy.

UNICEF is appealing for USD 5 million to cover education, health, nutrition, sanitation and child protection needs for the current emergency as well as to support the Country Office's response in the aftermath of the Lombok earthquakes.

About UNICEF

UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization. We work tirelessly to help children and their families, doing whatever it takes to ensure children survive. We provide children with healthcare and immunization, clean water, nutrition and food security, education, emergency relief and more.

UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary donations and helps children regardless of race, religion or politics. As part of the UN, we are active in over 190 countries - more than any other organization. Our determination and our reach are unparalleled. Because nowhere is too far to go to help a child survive. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicef.ca. For updates, follow us on Twitter and Facebook or visit unicef.ca.

SOURCE UNICEF Canada