Threat of Disease Looms over Millions of Children in Asia; Urgent Need for Supplies
WESTPORT, Conn. (Oct. 6, 2009) - Save the Children relief teams are reaching the most remote areas to deliver critical supplies after the wave of disasters that swept through the Asia-Pacific region last week, including three severe earthquakes, two powerful typhoons and a deadly tsunami.
"In some of the more devastated regions of Asia, we were the first to distribute critical supplies in the most urgent situations - but these disasters have stretched our resources and we need additional support to help us reach the many thousands who are waiting for our help," said Carolyn Miles, chief operating officer of Save the Children. "Now it is a race against time. With the rainy season looming, the spread of disease will further devastate these hard-hit areas."
Details of Save the Children's humanitarian response to the emergencies in Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and American Samoa are listed below. Follow us on Facebook.com and Twitter for updates on these emergencies.
Indonesia:
Following last week's deadly earthquakes, heavy rains and mudslides have made roads in the Pariaman district difficult to pass and consequently constrained service delivery. Nevertheless, Save the Children's relief teams are reaching children and families - 900 more as of today - with critical relief supplies.
In addition, Save the Children has made child protection a priority throughout Indonesia and has taken the lead to help open schools and set up Child Friendly Spaces, a safe place for children where they can receive counseling and return to their studies. Relief teams are preparing to set up 95 temporary schools and Child Friendly Spaces in the evacuation centers.
"While it's good that schools are being re-opened, they are in terrible condition, very unsafe and the children are dealing with horrible traumas," said Mark Fritzler, Save the Children's Country Director in Indonesia. "Many of the children are crying as they see more than half of their classmates are missing. It is just as critical for us to help rebuild the schools as it is to begin counseling services for the children."
Other urgent needs include clean water, for drinking and cooking, as well as shelter and hygiene supplies for those left injured and living in shelters. In particular, Save the Children is concerned with the spread of malaria with the beginning of the rainy season upon the country. Save the Children is distributing bed nets to children and families but more are needed.
Read our emergency staff blog by Allison Zelkowitz from Indonesia.
Philippines:
Following two catastrophic back-to-back typhoons last week, critical supplies are needed in water-logged Philippines. Flood waters have not receded and remain a huge danger. Skin diseases and other water-borne illnesses have become a serious problem among children and families, especially those living in evacuation shelters where sanitation conditions are deplorable.
"Although we have distributed thousands of family hygiene and household kits, we are in desperate need of more supplies," said Latha Caleb, Save the Children country office director for the Philippines. "Lack of sanitation systems and clean water threaten to result in widespread illness and disease. There is also a serious shortage of food."
In addition, many of the evacuation centers have been set up in school buildings, making it difficult to fully re-open schools for children. To help with the problem, the government established three shortened shifts for children, with some children having to trudge through flooded streets at night to get to their classes.
Save the Children has distributed over 6,000 kits of relief items, including clothing, blankets and hygiene supplies. Teams of staff have already set up Child Friendly Spaces, where children have a safe place to be during the day, and will continue to do so throughout the week.
Read our emergency staff blog by Latha Caleb from the Philippines.
Vietnam:
The typhoon that slammed into Vietnam last week displaced as many as 150,000 people. Now the hard work begins to contain the threat of disease and help rebuild the country. Save the Children's aid workers have been slogging through flooded roads and mud to reach the children and families whose villages have been completely devastated by flash floods.
"Homes have collapsed like a deck of cards and hundreds of thousands have been left homeless, without power or clean water, and only a few days of food supplies," said Nick Finney, Save the Children's response manager in Vietnam. "Cases of diarrhea, malaria and other diseases have risen and some clinics are running out of medicines."
Read our emergency staff blog by Nick Finney from Vietnam.
American Samoa:
Recovery efforts are underway after a deadly earthquake and tsunami slammed into the Samoan Islands last week. Save the Children continues to coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross to meet the urgent needs of children and families affected by this disaster.
"Although life is returning to normal for many survivors, most face a massive cleanup," said Josh Madfis, Save the Children's child protection specialist in American Samoa. "The water is still not drinkable, and families living in shelters have an urgent need for baby supplies, including diapers and cribs."
Read our emergency staff blog by Josh Madfis in American Samoa.
Save the Children is the leading independent organization that creates lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children USA is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, a global network of 29 independent Save the Children organizations working to ensure the well-being and protection of children in more than 120 countries. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
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