Sumatra needs your help.
More than 3 Million people are affected
At least 1 Million are displaced
Over 1,000 people have lost their lives.
Hundreds of people are missing
Sumatra is currently facing a major humanitarian emergency – among the most severe disasters the region has experienced since the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
Cyclone Senyar and days of constant rain have brought severe flooding across multiple regions. Major bridges and roads have been completely destroyed and access has been cut off to thousands of people. For many regions, electricity and telecommunications have been completely severed. Since major roads are down, food and supplies cannot be brought in.
Hundreds of people are confirmed dead and hundreds more are missing. Entire communities have been washed away. As the death toll continues to rise and many areas remain inaccessible, the full extent of this disaster is not yet clear.
Along with our partners and friends, Children of Sumatra has been organising essential food and supplies to remote communities, but the needs are huge and growing every day.
The cyclone and floods have also hit many of the children who received surgery with our help – their entire homes have been washed away. Thousands of people have lost everything they ever owned.
This is a desperate situation. Urgent help is needed to overcome this humanitarian crisis.
This crisis is not just impacting Indonesia but communities across Southeast Asia, with the world still unaware of the scale of this unfolding disaster.
How we are helping
Delivering Aid
Providing basic aid has been essential during this time. Our main focus has been on supplying everyday necessities such as cookers, gas bottles, pots and pans, sleeping mats, and milk for babies. These simple but vital items are helping families meet their immediate needs as they begin to recover and rebuild their lives.
Medical Teams
Through our ongoing work with local hospitals in North Sumatra, we were able to establish a channel for medical teams to operate community clinics. As a result, well over 1,000 patients have received essential medical care. This collaboration has been vital in ensuring access to healthcare for those affected by the flood.
Building Wells
Our teams have successfully built wells in the Regency of Tamiang, an area that was left with very limited access to clean water for drinking and washing after the flood. This has been one of our most impactful and successful projects so far, helping restore a vital resource to the community during a critical time of recovery.
Toilet Blocks
With the success of the clean water projects, we are now able to implement essential sanitation initiatives. Toilet blocks, which include a toilet, shower area, and clothes-washing facilities, are being built in the areas where the need is greatest. These facilities are helping to improve hygiene, prevent the spread of disease, and restore dignity to affected communities.
Cleaning Homes
The level of mud inside people’s homes is truly shocking. Our teams have been working tirelessly to clean out the debris and, wherever possible, help families return safely to their homes. Their efforts are focused on restoring safe and livable conditions so the community can begin to rebuild and recover.
Restarting Small Businesses
We have already successfully launched this project by helping to restart three small businesses. Our goal now is to continue expanding this effort, supporting more entrepreneurs whose livelihoods were destroyed by the flood. By helping small businesses reopen and rebuild, we aim to strengthen the local economy and create a pathway toward long-term recovery for the community.
Please help the people in Sumatra today.
Please donate—no matter how small—and share this appeal so we can bring urgently needed help to more families.