SINGAPORE, 1 October 2018 – Mercy Relief, Singapore’s homegrown humanitarian non-governmental organisation (NGO), will be sending its disaster response team to Palu, Central Sulawesi,  where aftershocks from a 7.4-magnitude earthquake had triggered a tsunami with 3m-high waves on 28 September. The team is travelling tomorrow morning to provide the first phase of emergency relief distribution. Immediate needs of the communities include shelter kits, solar light, medical service, water and food items.

According to The Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB), the death toll has risen to more than 1200, with over 16,000 people have been displaced by the quakes, and about 2.4 million in Donggala and Palu will need humanitarian aid. Power and telecommunications to the region have been cut off and the roads are damaged, hampering search and rescue efforts. As assessment of damage is still ongoing, the number of casualties is expected to rise.

Mercy Relief is working very closely with its local partners to ascertain pressing needs of the communities. The team will continue to monitor the situation in order to determine the next phase of disaster relief.

Mercy Relief will be launching a public fundraising appeal in Singapore from 1 October to 31 October. Members of the public can also make their donations via the following channels:

1) Credit Card donation via Mercy Relief’s website: www.mercyrelief.org

2) Crossed cheque made out to “Mercy Relief Limited” with “Sulawesi Earthquake 2018 Relief” and email address written on the back of the cheque, and mailed to Blk 160, Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, #01-1568, Singapore 310160

3) Cash donations at Blk 160, Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, #01-1568, Singapore 310160

4) Fund transfer to Mercy Relief’s DBS Current Account 054-900741-2

5) Crowdfund via giving.sg for the “Sulawesi Earthquake 2018 Relief”: https://www.giving.sg/mercy-relief/sulawesi_earthquake_2018

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