Southeast Asia Crisis
As staff began to assess the impact of Tropical Storm Ketsana which struck the Philippines and Vietnam in late September, a tsunami struck western Samoa and American Samoa, leaving a wake of destruction. Following that, on the 30th September two catastrophic earthquakes rocked Indonesia.
Save the Children is responding to all four of these emergencies in the Asia Pacific region that, in less than one week, have left millions of children and their families in dire need of food, water, shelter, and other essentials for their survival and immediate recovery.
In all of these locations we are rushing to assist children and their families.
Save the Children is also preparing for the possible landfall of an even stronger typhoon in the same region of the Philippines within the next several days, which would deal a second devastating blow to children and families staggered by Tropical Storm Kestana.
Children's voices
We spoke to Lorraine, age 11, Metro Manila, Philippines. She told us, “I’m afraid of the next storm. My siblings and I might not be able to survive that one.” Her father rescued her and her four younger siblings by placing all of them on a large block of Styrofoam and towing them to safety.
Indonesia Earthquake
Although very little information is yet available, a disaster of this scope will leave tens of thousands of children in and around Padang at risk of grave harm and unfathomable adversity. The Indonesian government reports of collapsed hospitals and severely damagedinfrastructure and many thousands of people caught in collapsed buildings. Many children are believed to be separated from their families because the first earthquake struck during the school day.
Save the Children is moving as quickly as possible to rush emergency supplies to children and families in the devastated city. Truckloads of over 13,300 shelter kits and family hygiene kits are already in motion from our warehouses in Indonesia. Expert staff are enroute to the region to assess critical needs and start relief flowing.
Samoan Islands
On Tuesday, September 29, an 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck the Samoan Islands region, triggering a deadly tsunami that swept entire villages out to sea. Another earthquake struck the area the following day. President Obama has declared this a major disaster.
Children and families who have been displaced and lost all possessions are in urgent need of food, clean water, materials for shelters, clothing and personal items. Damaged infrastructure makes family communication, as well as the delivery of supplies, exceedingly difficult, exacerbating affected families’ distress. Save the Children US’ Domestic Emergencies Unit and Save the Children Australia and Save the Children New Zealand are responding to affected children and families.
Philippines
While floodwaters are receding from Tropical Storm Ketsana, which saturated the island of Luzon September 25-27, many communities remain isolated and with no relief as of today. The country’s National Disaster Coordinating Council estimates that some 2.5 million children and adults were affected by flooding. Many have lost homes and possessions.
Due to our preparedness efforts on the ground in the Philippines, we were able to respond quickly to the tropical storm. We have distributed hundreds of emergency kits to affected children; these include essentials such as clothes and soap. Plastic jugs to store water will also be provided. This work will be expanded to reach affected children and their families who are staying outside evacuation centres. Teams of staff continue to conduct rapid assessments in affected communities. As part of the assessments, Save the Children will prioritise children’s need for psychosocial support.
Vietnam
Typhoon Ketsana reached Vietnam on September 29 after causing damage in the Philippines, the storm has had a devastating affect on 12 provinces of Vietnam. Rivers swelled to record highs, causing surges and extensive flooding.
Tens of thousands of families have lost their homes and belongings, these families who have been displaced require food, clean water, materials for shelters, clothing and other essential supplies. In addition, over 200 schools have been affected.
Save the Children has a strong capacity to respond in this area, having worked in Vietnam for nearly 20 years, is preparing to respond to families’ needs in three of the hardest hit provinces. Rapid assessment teams are evaluating needs in Da Nang, Qunag Tri and Hue provinces and laying the groundwork for rapid relief efforts. Save the Children anticipates that it will deliver relief packages such as non-food items, shelter mater ls and clean-up kits; help reconstruct homes, schools and clinics; and provide families with livelihoods support for recovery of agriculture and lost assets.
With your support
The Asia-Pacific region has been rocked by a number of disasters in a very short period of time. Families have fled their homes and lost all their possessions. Children are injured, frightened and vulnerable. We’re responding in all locations to help those in need.
Save the Children has issued global appeals for support in this time of extraordinary circumstances that have jeopardised the lives, well-being and futures of children whose families were already among the poorest and most vulnerable in the region.
If you would like to donate to Save the Children please select your national organisation from the list below. Your donation will enable us to reach more children.
More on our response
Eye Witness Accounts
Video from the Philippines: One Month On (26 October 2009)
Voices from Indonesia: School Brings Routine and Safety Back to Popot’s Life (26 October 2009)
Video from Southeast Asia Save the Children Southeast Asia Appeal (26 October 2009)
Voices from Vietnam: Tul Pinkaew (20 October 2009)
Ingrid Lund reports from Indonesia Children resume their studies (20 October 2009)
Voices from Indonesia: Ingrid Lund (19 October 2009)
Photoessay from the Philippines Children are the most vulnerable in any emergency (12 October 2009)
Photoessay from the Philippines Communities uprooted by Typhoon Ketsana (09 October 2009)
Voices from the Philippines: Erich Jane (09 October 2009)
Voices from the Philippines: Ruby Ann and Nicole (08 October 2009)
Voices from the Philippines: Latha Caleb (08 October 2009)
Voices from Indonesia: Ratna's Story (08 October 2009)
Voices from Indonesia: Allison Zelkowitz (08 October 2009)
Slideshow In the aftermath of Typhoon Ketsana, Vietnam (07 October 2009)
Audio Slideshow Mike Penrose reoprts from Padang, Indonesia (07 October 2009)
Photoessay from Vietnam: The Storm Over Vietnam (05 October 2009)
Voices from Indonesia: Virania's Story (05 October 2009)
Video from the Philippines: Community Under Water in the Philippines (05 October 2009)
Voices from the Philippines: Thousands more need our Help (05 October 2009)
Voices from Vietnam: Nick Finney (03 October 2009)
Video from the Philippines: Save the Children Saving Lives (03 October 2009)
Press Release
Save the Children Assisting Thousands of Vulnerable Children Affected by Six Disasters across Asia Pacific Region (07 October 2009)
Food crisis fears as Vietnamese flooding causes devastating crop destruction (07 October 2009)
Save the Children Supports Thousands of Severely Affected Children in Quake-Hit Indonesia (07 October 2009)
Save the Children Leading Massive Relief Efforts for Hardest to Reach Children and Families in Asia Pacific (06 October 2009)
Save the Children Takes the Lead in Distributing Critical Supplies (05 October 2009)
Remote mountain villages devastated in Vietnam, as full extent of Typhoon Ketsana destruction is revealed, says Save the Children. (03 October 2009)
Powerful Earthquakes Rock Indonesia;Thousands Buried Under Rubble (03 October 2009)
Save the Children Helps Families in Philippines Brace for Typhoon Parma (03 October 2009)
Save the Children Staff Responding In the Devastated City of Padang (03 October 2009)
Triple Crisis for Children in Asia (02 October 2009)
With the Safety and Well-Being of Children at Risk, Save the Children Launches Rapid Response to the Earthquake (01 October 2009)
As New Storms Approach, Save the Children Moves Quickly to Assist Children and Families Affected by Philippines (30 September 2009)
Save the Children Provides Relief to Children and Families Affected by Philippines Flooding (29 September 2009)
Children left terrified after Typhoon Ketsana hits Vietnam (29 September 2009)
Save the Children Moves to Assist Children Families Affected by Philippines Flooding (28 September 2009)