Thursday 1 October 2009

Millions of families have been forced to flee their homes across Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, and children have been left injured, frightened and vulnerable.

We’re responding in all three countries, distributing life-saving aid to tens of thousands of people including food, shelter and cooking utensils.

“Officially 529 people have died, but we fear the real figure may be hundreds more,” said Mark Fritzler, Save the Children’s Indonesia country director. “We’re doing everything we can to help people. Our emergency teams are in Padang and distributing vital supplies. We’re extremely concerned for children. Many may be trapped in rubble, exposed to disease, separated from their parents and traumatised.”

Nick Finney, Save the Children’s Regional Emergency Advisor currently in Vietnam, said: “The scale of the disasters is still unfolding and we fear the worst is yet to come. Children are most vulnerable in any emergency and the threats they face are exacerbated by the fact that the rains are expected to continue in the region over the coming weeks; with new areas flooding and the water level not receding in others.”

“We’re concerned that more storms are on the way that will devastate these already vulnerable areas,” Finney continued. “Further storms will create additional damage, and hamper both the relief effort and the ability of families to recover quickly.”

Please help us reach more children by donating to Save the Children’s South-East Asia Appeal

What your donation could buy:

• £6 can feed a family of five for a month
• £10 can buy four mosquito nets
• £20 can buy three tarpaulins to help provide shelter for a family