Oxfam provides drinking water and shelter to thousands

Tuesday 7 August 2018

Oxfam provides drinking water and shelter to thousands after Lombok earthquake

Oxfam is providing clean drinking water and tarpaulin shelter sheets to 5,000 survivors after a devastating 6.9 magnitude earthquake, the second within a week, hit Lombok Island in Indonesia on Sunday night.

The Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency now puts the death toll at 98, with over 200 people injured. More than 600,000 people are affected in total, with up to 80 per cent of the population displaced in four out of the five districts of Lombok (Northern, Western, Eastern and Central Lombok).

It is feared many people are still buried due to landslides in the hills and the rubble of thousands of homes and buildings that have collapsed following the main earthquake and multiple aftershocks.

More than 20,000 people are in temporary shelters, while thousands more are sleeping under open skies in need of drinking water, food, medical supplies and clothes.

Clean drinking water is scarce due to the extremely dry weather conditions leading up the disaster.

Oxfam Indonesia’s Humanitarian Manager Ancilla Bere said following the first 6.5 magnitude earthquake last week, Oxfam had dispatched a mobile water treatment plant, 1,500 tarpaulins for shelter, and clothing material, and set up an emergency relief information centre to support the work of the local humanitarian partners.

“This is a double disaster, and many people are understandably shocked and fearful,” Ms Bere said.

“Oxfam and partners will now intensify our aid delivery efforts.

“While all Oxfam and partner staff on Lombok are safe, many project sites had been hit hard by the quakes, halting regular operations.

“However, through our partners, we will continue to provide emergency aid to those affected by the latest quake and will reach as many people as we can.”

Oxfam helped to set up a Humanitarian Knowledge Hub on the island, with eight to 10 local organisations and supported two of them to respond in the aftermath of the first 6.5 magnitude earthquake last week.

Donations to support Oxfam’s emergency responses around the world can be made online at oxfam.org.nz/drf or by calling 0800 600 700.

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