HelpAge’s Regional Representative for East Asia and Pacific, Eduardo Klien, sent us this latest update on the continuing emergency situation:
Vietnam
The damage is larger than initially thought. There are large numbers of affected people (estimates of around 3 million) and huge damage to infrastructure.
The typhoon affected 12 provinces. The government is responding well (half a million people were evacuated), but the need is enormous.
This is the worst disaster in Vietnam in decades. Our partner, the Vietnamese Women’s Union are strong , organised… and everywhere!
Indonesia
Again, the earthquake has claimed more victims than originally estimated. The physical damage is enormous and the city of Padang looks like Berlin at the end of WW2.
We are carrying out an assessment in the selected areas of Padang Pariaman and Parak Buruk, in West Sumatra this week. These are smaller towns in the vicinity of Padang.
The recovery in Indonesia will be longer than in the Philippines and Vietnam. The damage and loss of life is larger, much larger there and it will take at least a year for agencies to be truly effective.
Find out more about what we do in emergencies to help older people.