By Bernadette Martin | Project Manager
World Vision (WV) has responded well to the recent disaster. To meet the massive needs of the affected people, WV launched its emergency response to support affected communities in the Central Sulawesi region. WV had strong presence in the region through its development programming prior to the disaster. This enabled WV to quickly distribute relief materials that met the priority needs of the communities and complement the government efforts for emergency assistance.
However, addressing the long-term recovery and reconstruction needs is critical to bringing in sense of normalcy and putting into place appropriate risk reduction measures towards building community resilience.
During assessments, many affected households reported inability to meet basic needs especially among the most affected vulnerable groups such as IDP camps, woman headed households, children separated from caregivers.
Through the emergency relief initiatives, we reached 21,373 families in the first 90 days of the response. The interventions enabled to meet the immediate needs of 75,633 most vulnerable individuals in 62 villages of 4 districts in Central Sulawesi Province.
Staff Story
Community Latrine to Improve Health & Boost Livelihood
Access to the availability of clean water and sanitation is always be an issue when a disaster occurs. The unavailability of clean water and sanitation can result in death because it is closely related to health. Since the earthquake & tsunami, the community was forced to take water from the sewer and use it for washing, cooking and also drinking. As a result, many children and adults has stomach aches and diarrhea.
Since the first month of responding to the disaster in Central Sulawesi, World Vision (WV) provides clean water access to evacuation posts along with water tanks and continue providing community latrines, so the community can maintain hygiene and environment health.
Sigid (WV Hygiene Promotion Specialist for Central Sulawesi Earthquake & Tsunami Emergency Response) said that the changing geographical conditions and unstable economic conditions, especially in Palu, Sigi and Donggala City became one of the challenges for WV especially for the construction of community latrine.
“The disasters in Central Sulawesi was not only 1 but 3 types: earthquake, tsunami and liquefaction. This is a challenge that requires a lot of thought and knowledge to help people get the clean water access and the community latrine, because the handling of the geographical conditions is very influential on the technical issues process,” Sigid said explaining the challenges he’s facing.
But these challenges did not make Sigid and the entire Central Sulawesi emergency response team stop to do their best. Vision and mission to jointly rebuild the community of Central Sulawesi become the spirit to always strive for the best.
"As per December 2018, there will be 20 community latrines units in 20 locations and 10 units have been built until the roof. We use a simple, efficient and economical process to build the community latrine by not using sophisticated tools that cannot be used and done by the community. We hope that through this program we can also provide knowledge to the community so they can learn and replicate this process, so that in the future it can become a livelihood source for them.” Sigid said.
Child Story
The Water is Getting Closer to Us
Reza (10) knows what to do after this: fetching water. In a bit of a rush, the fourth grader takes small bucket and jerry to the water tank nearby. Reza is one of children affected by earthquake in Central Sulawesi when some parts of his house collapsed.
Reza, together with his younger siblings, Arga (8) and Cita (1), must stay in a tent in an evacuation camp.
“When I remember what happened, I still get afraid,” said Reza quietly.
Living in a tent has not been easy for Reza and his siblings. The limited availability of water was a big because they needed clean water to drink, eat and take showers. Afriani (32), Reza’s mother, agrees with it.
“During first days we moved into the settlement, water was really scarce because the spring was dry. I remember how our family could not get clean water for several days,” said Afriani.
Through Central Sulawesi Earthquake and Tsunami Emergency Response program, WV distributed clean water to many evacuation camps that spread throughout Palu, Sigi and Donggala, including the camp where Reza family stays.
“Alhamdulillah (Thank God), we now have enough clean water for our daily needs,” said Afriani, “We used the clean water for drinking, cooking and taking a bath. I feel safe when I have enough clean water for my children.”
Without hesitation, Reza helps her mother fetch clean water because the water tank is within 200 meters from his house tent.
The Central Sulawesi Earthquake and Tsunami Emergency Response team has distributed 3,479,390 litres of clean water in several evacuation post spread in Palu, Sigi and Donggala. With clean water, children’s basic need is fulfilled that they can have healthy life and are protected from the disease although it is in an emergency situation.
Our continuing work
World Vision will continue to provide assistance Food, Shelter, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Shelter, Non-food items (NFI)
for the most vulnerable families. Simultaneously recovery interventions are being planned which will address the specific needs of 5000 families across the most affected sectors of Shelter, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene, Health Education and Livelihood.
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