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Asia Pacific in Crisis Appeal
Funds are urgently needed for tens of thousands of children across the Asia Pacific region affected by the devastating typhoons, earthquakes and tsunamis that have battered the area over the past few days. Thousands of people have been killed and millions more are homeless throughout the Philippines, Vietnam, Samoa and West Sumatra in Indonesia.
Your continued support of our Global Neighbours program has made a real difference to children’s lives throughout the world. Thank you.
Children are the most vulnerable in times of crisis and Save the Children has issued a global appeal for emergency funds for the current crisis in the Asia Pacific region. These funds will enable us to respond to children’s immediate humanitarian needs and initiate longer-term recovery programs.
Save the Children is mobilising staff and resources to provide humanitarian assistance to children and families in Western Sumatra, Indonesia where a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Padang on September 30.
According to early reports, the quake destroyed homes and buildings, cut communication and electricity, and damaged bridges in and around Padang, home to 900,000 people.
“Children and their families have been forced from their homes and into an extremely stressful and dangerous environment,” said Mike Penrose, Director Emergency Programs for Save the Children Australia. “We are currently sending teams to help and assist in their recovery”.
“Save the Children is providing assistance to support our partner organisations in the Samoan capital of Apia and we are in contact with our programs in the affected areas to get a sense of the extent of the damage, and the immediate needs,” he said.
Save the Children Australia is leading a major relief effort in the three worst affected provinces of Vietnam. Typhoon Ketsana which, struck the Philippines and Vietnam, has caused the worst flooding in decades. Millions of people have been affected, many losing their homes and belongings to the torrents of water that swept through their neighbourhoods and communities.
The next days and weeks will be crucial to children’s survival and well-being. They have endured a disaster on a scale they and their families have never seen before.
We need your help now to support children and families devasted by this crisis.
Across the Asia Pacific region, Save the Children expects to:
- Deliver essential relief packages such as non-food items and shelter
- Distribute food
- Provide health and nutrition activities
- Prioritise child protection work, including Child Friendly Spaces that provide a protective environment for children
- Emergency education
- Livelihood support to help families regain income and provide basic needs.
Thank you for your current support of Save the Children around the world. Any additional help you can provide for the Asia Pacific Crisis Appeal today will help children and their families in their time of need.
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