New Zealand
6 October 2006
Earthquake victims prepare for heavy November rains
Save the Children is working hard to provide as much shelter as possible to victims of the May Yogyakarta earthquake, before the November rains begin.
Over 5000 people lost their lives, and hundreds of thousands lost their homes in the May 27 earthquake (measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Earthquakes continue to affect the archipelago with the most recent one on Wednesday this week, centred 95km under the Maluku Sea's bed, near the northern tip of Sulawesi Island. Yogyakarta has also experienced problems with a local volcano, Merapi, and mudslides since the quake.
"Reconstruction and rehabilitation is a huge job and goes on long after the headline news is over. Save the Children continues working to provide shelter, education, child protection, health and nutrition to the victims of the Yogyakarta quake," John Bowis, Executive Director of Save the Children New Zealand, said today.
Save the Children has provided:
- 339,784 tarpaulins and tents, 13,000 roof structures (transitional shelters) have been built,
- 561 learning spaces (tents and tarpaulins) have been provided, and
- a total of 9,954 shelter kits have been distributed.
Save the Children are committed to providing:
- a further 56,000 more transitional shelters are planned in Yogyakarta and Central Java provinces,
- at least 251 temporary shelters for elementary schools for the areas of Bantul and Klaten,
- and 163 temporary schools.
Save the Children works on delivering lasting improvements to children's lives both here in New Zealand and worldwide.
Save the Children's Annual Appeal runs from 9 to 15 October this year. Donations can be made by phoning 0800 167 168 or online here.