The Queen has made a private donation to help the survivors of the devastating Indonesian Earthquake and Tsunami. It is believed that around 200,000 people are in desperate need of relief following the disaster.
1,948 people have now been confirmed dead, with many still missing.
The Disasters Emergency Committee’s fundraising appeal raised £6 million on the first day, as people rushed to help the tragic victims.
Earlier this week, The Queen sent a message to the President of Indonesia Joko Widodo:
It read: “I was extremely sorry to hear about the terrible earthquake and tsunami in Sulawesi at the end of last week, particularly given these events happened so soon after the recent earthquake in Lombok.
Prince Philip and I send our sincere condolences to all those affected by the disaster and their families.
“Elizabeth R.”
The devastating effects of the 7.5 magnitude earthquake, which triggered a tsunami of three massive waves as high as 20ft, which destroyed most of the coastline north of Palu, was so deadly that it turned the ground into liquefied mud which sucked up houses and entire villages.
Even a week later, most communications are still down, such was the devastation. Bridges and road have been destroyed or blocked and in some cases the roads even buckled.
With International Aid flowing, the UK has sent a massive convoy of 17.5 tonnes of UK aid to help the hundreds of thousands of people, who have been left without food, water, and shelter.
The UK Aid has been delivered in several flights to the International Relief Centre at Balikpapan.
The aid includes general humanitarian aid supplies, transport trucks, a lighting tower generator, plus also 1,280 shelter kits, 288 hygiene kits, handling equipment that includes a forklift truck and conveyor belt that will increase the speed at which the humanitarian aid can be transferred from flights and distributed to people in their communities.
(The £3m aid was pledged by the Department For International Development). There is a DFID team of humanitarian experts coordinating the response in Indonesia who are relaying what is needed to help cope with the disaster.
Oxfam are currently working to get water hydrants set up to allow refugees access to clean drinking water.
The Disaster Emergency Committee Chief Executive Saleh Saeed said donations will ensure aid workers from 14 leading UK aid charities can reach those left homeless and in urgent need of food, water and shelter.
“As the full impact of the disaster unfolds, DEC member charities and their partners are ready to help devastated communities to rebuild their lives Saleh Saeed said. “We would urge people to continue donating.”
The United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that more than £38 million is required to deliver “immediate, life-saving aid.”. Mr Wilmot went on to say “Thousands of people have had to leave damaged homes and flee to relatives or friends, but they may not be able to stay indefinitely.”
Thousands more have been left with nothing.
The Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister said that the most important things which are currently needed are Water Treatment Facilities, Aircraft, Generators, Tents, and Field Medical Facilities.
Donations can be made at www.dec.org.uk or on the 24 hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900. You can also give money over the counter at any high street bank or post office.
As this disaster unfolded, the World has been left broken-hearted, and feeling helpless.
Our Thoughts And Prayers Are With You Indonesia.
Words by Amanda Waters
© Amanda Waters