A child wanders through the rubble of destroyed houses in Padang's city centre on the morning of October 3, 2009
UNICEF Indonesia/2009/Josh Estey
In the last week of September 2009, three separate natural disasters hit the Asia-Pacific region. The first, Typhoon Ketsana, caused flooding in the Philippines capital Manila and later hit Viet Nam and Cambodia. The second, which followed a few days later was a Tsunami which which affected American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga. Finally, a terrible earthquake hit Sumatra, which caused devastation in Indonesia.
Typhoons Ketsana and Parma
On 26 September, Typhoon Ketsana hit Manila, capital of the Philippines, engulfing it with 45 cm (18 inches) of rain in 12 hours - the heaviest rainfall since 1967 and equivalent to the average monthly rainfall! An estimated 80% of Manila was left under water, with floodwaters in some areas of the city reaching a height of six metres. It was followed shortly after by Typhoon Parma, which hit the north of the country, causing massive landslides on 9 October.
The death toll from the storms has risen to over 600. More than 6 million people have been affected, with about 320,000 sheltering in evacuation centres.
UNICEF has distributed tents and school materials to the area to help the authorities re-start schooling as a way of helping children affected by the quake to focus on a regular routine again.
UNICEF Indonesia/2009/Josh Estey
Unicef’s Response
So far, UNICEF has supplied £90,000 worth of food, hygiene kits, essential medicines, water purification tablets, portable toilets and family kits containing blankets and soap.
However, we still need over £8 million in funds to respond to the disaster. The priority needs are food, drinking water, household items, bedding, and clothing. We also need to return schools being used as evacuation centres to their original purpose and provide education and protection to displaced and affected children.
Samoan Tsunami
On 29 September, American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga were hit by a powerful tsunami, following an 8.3 magnitude earthquake creating 15ft (4.5m) waves in some areas of the islands. Over 170 people have been killed in the three countries. Tens of thousands have been affected and there are reports of entire villages having been destroyed by the tsunami. 4,000 children in Samoa alone have been forced to leave their homes.
Unicef’s Response
UNICEF needs £125,000 to fund our emergency response in Samoa and Tonga. We have sent urgent immunisation supplies to the region to prevent any outbreaks of disease, along with supplies of oral rehydration salts and water purification tablets. We are also planning to set up nutrition, water and sanitation programs as well as working with Samoa and Tongan to provide protection for women and children.
Sumatran Earthquake
On 30 September, two earthquakes struck off the coast of West Sumatra. The earthquakes measured 7.6 on the Richter scale causing hundreds of buildings to collapse in the city of Padang. Over 1,000 people have died and a further 1,000 are missing.
Padang, the capital of Indonesia's West Sumatra province, sits on one of the world's most active fault lines known as the "Ring of Fire" where the Indo-Australia plate grinds against the Eurasia plate to create regular tremors and sometimes devastating quakes. It was along the same fault line that caused the massive 2004 Asian tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in a dozen countries. Countless homes, schools, bridges and roads in the city of Padang have been destroyed.
Amidst the rubble of an Elementary School in Padang, West Sumatra, children hunt for school books that can be salvaged and used again
UNICEFIndonesia/2009/Josh Estey
Unicef’s Response
UNICEF is working with the Indonesian government and other UN agencies to provide assistance for up to 50,000 families. This includes supplying water pumps, water storage equipment, 40,000 jerry cans and 40,000 hygiene kits.
We are also providing protective services and safe places for children and supplying 250 school tents, schools-in-a-box, and recreational kits which help children re-establish a sense of normality.
How You Can Help
- Keep up-to-date with the situation in in the Phillipines on the UNICEF website.
- View the photogallery of children affected by the disasters.
- Read our tips on how you can fundraise for the emergency appeal.