Earthquake hits Indonesia

CARE Canada has joined forces with the HUMANITARIAN COALITION to respond to the crises in Asia, including the violent earthquake that struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra on September 30th. 

The 7.6 earthquake struck the area of Padang in the evening, destroying houses, infrastructure and injuring and killing residents. The number of casualties and extent of the damage is expected to rise as more information comes in from hard-to-reach areas. Government officials have estimated death toll could be in the thousands.

CARE has deployed its emergency team to the disaster site to help the people of Sumatra. CARE's extensive emergency experience has proven that the immediate needs after an earthquake of this size are most often clean drinking water, food and temporary shelter.

In addition, women and children are often hit hardest in emergencies, and have unique needs that must be addressed in relief efforts. For example, nursing kits are vital for breastfeeding mothers and their infants. Women are also impacted the hardest because they are the ones who are responsible for providing for their families, despite the emergency. This means trying to find safe food and water while at the same time caring for traumatized children.

CARE’s Indonesia staff have extensive experience in handling disasters, and are experts in emergency areas such as water and sanitation and distribution. CARE was one of the first agencies to respond to the 2004 tsunami in Aceh, and has responded to natural disasters and conflicts across Indonesia since the late 1990s, including another earthquake in Padang in 2007.

CARE is working in the most remote areas of the earthquake zone to reach up to 40,000 people with relief supplies, including hygiene kits, shelter kits, safe water systems and jerry cans for carrying clean water.

Together we are more powerful.

 ► LEARN: Read CARE’s Media Releases on this emergency and others and learn more about the HUMANITARIAN COALITION . Read CARE's first-hand accounts from the disaster zone.

 ► JOIN US: Join CARE’s Facebook Fan Page or sign up to the CARE_package's Twitter to get the most up to date news on the emergencies, and spread the word.

 ► TAKE ACTION: Help CARE respond to the devastating emergencies throughout Asia, including the earthquake. Please support CARE's Emergency Relief Fund or the HUMANITARIAN COALITION's joint response.