Head of Swiss Humanitarian Aid visits Palu

Press releases, 24.10.2018

Jakarta, 24 October 2018 - Ambassador Manuel Bessler, the Swiss Government’s Delegate for Humanitarian Aid, visited Palu on 22-23 October. He met with displaced people, authorities and local aid organizations. Accompanied by Kurt Kunz, Ambassador-designate of Switzerland to Indonesia, he reviewed Switzerland’s humanitarian assistance to the people affected by the earthquakes and tsunami. They donated additional material for water treatment and shelter to the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI).

Ambassador Manuel Bessler, Head of Swiss Humanitarian Aid, talks with a woman, whose family was affected by the earthquakes and tsunami of 28 September
Ambassador Manuel Bessler, Head of Swiss Humanitarian Aid, talks with a woman, whose family was affected by the earthquakes and tsunami of 28 September © FDFA

For the last three weeks, Switzerland has been providing emergency assistance to the communities affected by the earthquakes and tsunami that struck Central Sulawesi on 28 September 2018.  Several experts of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit have been deployed to Palu. They set up 300 family tents in three camps located between Palu and Dongala. In those camps, Switzerland provided latrines and bladders with 5’000 litres of drinking water.   

Switzerland sent more than 30 tons of relief items to Palu. Most of them were donated to the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI). The donation includes 40 multipurpose tents, 800 tarpaulins, 600 mosquito nets, 300 kitchen sets and cleaning kits. PMI also received water treatment devices which can supply up to 200’000 people with potable water every day. Experts of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit organised training with PMI staff. Switzerland contributed USD 500’000 to the emergency appeal of PMI and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). 

In total, Switzerland allocated USD 2.5 million for its humanitarian activities in Lombok and Sulawesi, out of which USD 1’670’000 have already been disbursed.

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