Urgent Appeal: Emergency Relief for Flores Island Earthquake Survivors
More than a week after a devastating earthquake struck Indonesia, tens of thousands of people remain displaced and in need of urgent assistance. Your support can help provide essential relief and care to affected communities.
On August 15, a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Flores Island, Indonesia. In response, Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV) dispatched staff to join local partner organizations in assessing the damage and carrying out emergency relief activities.
As the full impact of the disaster becomes clearer, the scale of the damage is significant. According to the latest figures from Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), as of August 23, 91 people had lost their lives, 1,505 people were injured or receiving medical treatment, and approximately 161,874 people remained displaced.
More than 66,700 homes have been damaged, along with schools, healthcare facilities, places of worship, and other public infrastructure.
Surviving in Harsh Conditions: Water Shortages and Temporary Shelters
PBV staff are currently working in Nagekeo Regency, an area located close to the earthquake’s epicenter.
Here, displaced families are living in open fields under temporary shelters made from thin blue tarpaulins. On a hill near the northern coast, more than 250 residents who lost their homes in the earthquake and accompanying tsunami waves have gathered for safety.
Flores Island already faces chronic water shortages under normal conditions. At the evacuation site visited by PBV staff, access to water is critically limited, with only two emergency water tanks being supplied irregularly by local NGOs.
There are also no adequate toilets or washing facilities at the site. Survivors ranging from one-month-old infants to a 90-year-old grandmother are sleeping on plastic sheets laid directly on the ground.
With limited access to clean water and sanitation, maintaining safe and healthy living conditions remains a major challenge for displaced families.
Psychological Trauma and the Shadow of the Past
The earthquake has also left a deep psychological impact on survivors.
In one large communal tent shared by 12 families, a mother held her three-year-old son tightly on her lap. She shared that ever since the earthquake, her child has been terrified to touch the ground and cries unless he is being held.
This trauma runs deep across the island. Flores was previously devastated by a massive earthquake and tsunami in 1992, which claimed approximately 2,500 lives. For many residents, every aftershock can bring back memories of that tragedy.
More than 5,000 aftershocks have been recorded since the August 15 earthquake, adding to the fear and uncertainty faced by displaced communities.
Beyond food, water, shelter, and other essential supplies, emotional support and mental health care are urgently needed to help children and families cope with fear and begin to recover.
How PBV Is Taking Action — And How You Can Help
With support from Japan Platform (JPF), PBV staff are carrying out needs assessments and relief activities alongside our trusted local partner NGO, ASAR Humanity, with whom we have collaborated on disaster responses in Indonesia over the years.
Together, PBV and ASAR Humanity are working to provide essential assistance, including food, clean water, hygiene supplies, emergency shelter, and other support based on the needs of affected communities.
The situation remains critical, particularly for families who cannot safely return to their damaged homes. Your support can help PBV and its local partners reach people facing the difficult aftermath of the earthquake and provide practical assistance where it is needed most.
Please support PBV’s emergency relief efforts for survivors of the Flores earthquake.
