Unicef speeds up relief work

> Initial phase kicks off with assessment team deployed at quake site

KUALA LUMPUR: Unicef is speeding up its humanitarian effort in Central Sulawesi in Indonesia which was hit by earthquake and tsunami recently.

Unicef Malaysia chief of communications Laurent Duvillier said the initial phase has started with an assessment team deployed and providing psychosocial support for the victims on the ground.

He said the focus will be on the initial areas of Kota Palu, Donggala and Sigi and then expanded with more information obtained from its team headed by acting Unicef Indonesia representative Amanda Bissex.

“As of Oct 3, 1,407 people had been confirmed to have died, more than 2,550 people have been seriously injured and 113 are still missing. It is likely that these figures will increase as more areas become accessible and the Indonesian government conducts more assessments.

“Buildings, including houses, shops, mosques and hotels, have collapsed, been swept away or suffered extensive damage. An estimated 66,000 houses have been damaged and almost 71,000 people are displaced and staying in over 140 sites. Family tents, water purification sets, generator sets, medical assistance and environmental management will be provided to the victims as soon as possible,” he said in a news conference held here yesterday.

He also noted some 71,000 internal displaced persons (IDP) are scattered around 140 locations in Sulawesi.

“These IDPs include women and children but we do not know the exact figures yet. However, a more comprehensive assessment will be made quickly in the coming days to understand the extend of their situation,” he said.

Unicef is appealing for US$5 million (RM20 million) initially to cover education, health, nutrition, sanitation, and child protection needs for the current emergency as well as to support the Country Office’s response in the aftermath of the Lombok earthquakes, he added.