Floods and earthquake in South East Asia

Five months after the devastating floods and earthquake in South East Asia, Age UK is helping older people to get back on their own feet with the assistance of our sister agency, HelpAge International.

In late September and early October 2009 typhoons, floods and earthquakes devastated Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Typhoons Ketsana and Parma hit northern Philippines killing hundreds of people and destroying thousands of homes. More than a million people were left homeless when Typhoon Ketsana hit Vietnam. An earthquake and landslides in Indonesia left thousands homeless in Padang province.

Initially our work in these countries focused on emergency relief: distribution of blankets, tents, food, water and clothes. In Vietnam, our local partner the Vietnam Women’s Union helped evacuate older people from their flooded homes and showed their solidarity by donating a day’s salary to pay for relief distribution.

Five months later we are still providing assistance to older people and their families. Cash grants are being given to households headed by older people so that they can replace some of the household items they lost. Local partners are continuing to ensure that older people receive medical assistance.

When the earthquake struck Indonesia, 83 year old Kirodin was staying with his family. For fifteen days he waited outside his house with a box hoping for donations from neighbours to buy food. Now that he has received a cash transfer from Age UK through HelpAge International, he no longer has to resort to begging. Kirodin has not recovered fully from the trauma of the earthquake. He fears another earthquake might hit: to overcome his fears he prays or goes to the local market to talk with other older people who survived.

Widowed Ramuna, aged 60, was lucky not to lose any of her family in the quake but bricks from her falling house broke her right arm and left leg. Her daughters have been helping her since the quake but their homes were destroyed, so they are all living in a temporary shelter made from wood and metal sheeting. Ramuna uses her funds to buy medicine and pay her medical bills.