Oxfam is supporting the Indonesian government to provide clean water and hygiene facilities to those affected by the tsunami that hit Indonesia’s Sunda Strait on Sunday.
The latest reports put the death toll at 373, with 128 reported missing, more than 1,500 injured and more than 11,000 people displaced from their homes. Those numbers could increase as the coastal towns of Sumatra and Java were turned to rubble by the giant waves which hit after volcano Anak Krakatau erupted.
The volcano erupted again yesterday, with surrounding areas still submerged in ash and smoke, giving rise to fears of fresh waves.
Dino Argianto, Oxfam’s humanitarian operations lead in Yogyakarta, said:
“People are in shock, and they fear for their safety, and they fear the possibility of another tsunami or landslides. They are also worried about their families and friends who are still missing.
“Thousands of people are housed in makeshift camps, and they need aid urgently including clean drinking water, food and sanitary supplies. We also need to pay special attention to the safety needs of women and children.
“Two of our teams are already on the ground working with partners to assess the needs and get help where it’s needed quickly.”
Oxfam will be providing clean water, building toilets, and distributing hygiene kits that include blankets and soap.
One of the most disaster-prone nations in the world, Indonesia faced humanitarian emergencies this year that left almost 4,000 people dead or missing and hundreds of thousands displaced.
Oxfam, working with local partners, has reached more than 100,000 people affected by the Sulawesi earthquakes by providing clean drinking water, setting up water points and pipelines, building toilets and distributing hygiene kits. Oxfam has also been working to build the capacity of local partners so that they can respond immediately when disaster strikes.
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For interviews with Oxfam spokespeople in Indonesia or more information, please contact Megan Giles on 0433 028 567 or megang@oxfam.org.au
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