Two powerful earthquakes shake Indonesia

At least 500 people are dead and thousands more are missing or trapped under collapsed buildings after two strong earthquakes rocked Indonesia’s Sumatra island. Authorities estimate the death toll could reach up to thousands.

The first earthquake, a magnitude 7.6, struck western Sumatra on Wednesday. Then, as rescuers desperately searched through the rubble for survivors, a second tremor with a magnitude of 6.8 hit southern Sumatra.

Government officials said most of the casualties occurred in Sumatra’s capital of Padang. The city lies on the same fault line that spawned the 2004 Asian tsunami, killing 230,000 people in 11 countries.

Food for the Hungry’s Emergency Response Unit is working with our Indonesian staff on the ground – who have been present since the 2004 Tsunami – to asses the damage and how we can best respond to those most impacted by the quakes.

Food for the Hungry urgently needs your support to alleviate the suffering of the quake victims.

Typhoon in Philippines // Earthquake in Indonesia

The death tool and level of damage in both the Philippines and Indonesia continues to worsen as both a typhoon and an earthquake hit the respective countries.

FH is responding. You can help! See the following links to learn more and get involved.

Typhoon in Philippines

Earthquake in Indonesia

Wednesday, 24 June, 2009

Mexico:  First hurricane of the season (Andres) in the Pacific hit Western Mexico, killing one person and causing flooding around Acapulco.  I've checked in with our GRA partner MTI working in Mexico but it doesn't look like there'll be a need to respond. 

Thursday, 12 June, 2009

Catching up after being largely offline in DRC, Rwanda and Kenya.

Swine Flu:  WHO yesterday declared phase 6, meaning the spread of swine flu is considered uncontrollable.  So far the cases still continue thankfully to be largely mild.  29,000 confirmed cases in 74 countries and 144 deaths.  FH has sent out guidance for phase 6.

Sudan:  Security in our program area has deteriorated again, but our staff are safe.

Kenya: Cholera epidemic around the country is affecting Marsabit District where FH works. The FH Kenya team is monitoring and requesting technical advice and possible financial resources.
From: Sara Sywulka, Director, Emergency Response

I've been traveling in Burundi and DRC with very limited internet connection, but fortunately nothing much as happened until yesterday/today.

Bangladesh/India: Cyclone Aira hit some of the same areas affected by cyclone Sidr in November 2007. We have authorized $5,000 at FH/Bangladesh's request for a response in that area. The Asia regional office has also been in touch with the India office to find more about relief efforts there.

Pakistan: We continue to raise funds fairly passively in response to the IDP crisis, assisting displaced Sihks.

From: Sara Sywulka, Director, Emergency Response

Swine Flu

Food for the Hungry is actively preparing its field staff with the latest information and recommendations regarding the emerging Swine Flu outbreak. Through training events and materials, families and communities are learning how they can protect themselves in the event of a global pandemic. We encourage your continued prayers and financial support as this situation develops.

Relief Assessment Begins in DR Congo

In response to the crisis in North Kivu, FH is looking into what gaps there are in humanitarian aid. At least 250,000 have been displaced in this region due to armed conflict between various rebel groups and the Congolese national army in the last few months. Living conditions of people in the displaced camps are marked with the lack of sanitation, food items and education structures. In Rutshuru area alone over 85% of schools have shut down due to insecurity.

FH is sending a relief assessment team to Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu today to determine a potential relief response.

Sign up for email updates to track with the team and check back often to see what we are seeing.

To read the latest from the crisis and sign up, click here:

http://www.fhglobal.org/explore/crisis_in_congo.php