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 responded to all four of these emergencies in the Asia Pacific region that, in less than one week, left millions of children and their families in dire need of food, water, shelter, and other essentials for their survival and immediate recovery. In many places, Save the Children was the first external responder to isolated communities.
Indonesia Earthquake
Six months after a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Padang, Indonesia, affecting 13 of the 19 districts in the province of West Sumatra. Save the Children has assisted 158,076 people affected by the earthquake, including 77,736 children, with a holistic package including shelter, educational support, child protection initiatives, and health and nutrition strengthening.
After the initial assistance with emergency shelter and relief items, Save the Children shifted its focus to increase the number of people able to self-recover. We assisted 750 families with cash so they could build temporary homes and live in a secure, dignified and healthy environment.
Samoan Islands
Children and their families who were displaced and lost all possessions received urgent assistance in the form of food, clean water, materials for shelters, clothing and personal items.
Damaged infrastructure made family communication, as well as the delivery of supplies, exceedingly difficult, exacerbating affected families’ distress.
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.
More than 3 million people were estimated to have been affected by the storms, with 500,000 in need of humanitarian assistance. These disasters caused widespread destruction of housing, crops, infrastructure, and damage to schools and health facilities basic household goods like pots and pans to 15,000 households. We are also repairing damaged water supply systems in villages and supplying medical equipment to health
With your support
With your support we are committed to helping children and their families to recover from these crises and we are helping communities to as they build a better environment and brighter future for its youngest members.
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)