Indonesia earthquake appeal: How to donate to survivors of the tsunami and earthquake

Six days on from the disaster, rescue teams are desperately searching for survivors who may still be trapped in the rubble after buildings collapsed and mudslides swamped Sulawesi island.

One person was pulled alive from underneath a collapsed hotel in Palu, one of the worst affected areas, by a French rescue team but their condition is not known.

Last Friday’s 7.5 magnitude earthquake devastated the west coast of the Indonesian island causing a massive tsunami to hit Palu.

The city was home to 370,000 people at the time the earthquake and tsunami hit.

The official death toll was today raised to 1,424 people, with the majority of victims from Palu, but this number is likely to rise as cut-off regions are accessed by rescue workers.

Aid workers have been struggling to reach Donggala, the epicentre of the earthquake, and little is known about the loss of life there.

An estimated 200,000 people are in urgent need of food, water and shelter, according to the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

How do I make a donation to victims of the earthquake and tsunami?

A massive aid appeal was launched today by the UK umbrella charity Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to help survivors of the Indonesia earthquake and tsunami.

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DEC, which has been running since 1963, co-ordinates major appeals for emergency aid to help people caught up in humanitarian crises around the world.

Which charities work with DEC?

The 14 charities united under DEC include Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Oxfam GB, and Save the Children UK.

The organisation raised £392m in public donations following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami which killed an estimated 227,898 people.

DEC launched its Indonesia Tsunami Appeal with a number of appeals across TV and radio urging people to donate either online, by phone or text.

Donations can be made at dec.org.uk or by calling the 24-hour operated hotline on 0370 60 60 900.

Alternatively text the word DONATE to 70000 to give £5.

DEC Chief Executive Saleh Saeed said: ”As the full scale of the disaster unfolds, they are providing emergency relief and are ready to help devastated communities to rebuild their lives.

“There is an urgent need for clean drinking water, food, medical care and shelter.

“Please give generously and let’s save the survivors.”

The charity says “£30 could provide emergency shelter for one family, £50 could provide a family with food for a month, £100 could help build toilet and washing facilities for a family”.

UK taxpayers are encouraged to add £12.50 to their donation by ticking the gift aid box, which will not cost you any extra money.