Help Children in Indonesia

On August 15th, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the island of Flores, followed by a second 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the country’s western island of Sumatra. Over 50 people have died, though casualties are likely to rise, and thousands have been displaced following the earthquake. 

While the full extent of the destruction is still unfolding, over 900 homes were damaged by the earthquake and hundreds of aftershocks. Essential infrastructure has also been affected, including 87 education facilities and 18 healthcare centers, disrupting services critical to children's well-being.

Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, home to over 270 million people - and one of the world's most disaster-prone countries. At least 40% of Indonesians live in areas prone to natural disasters, and these existing vulnerabilities are compounded every time a new emergency hits, straining recovery efforts, stretching resources thin and leaving children exposed to overlapping risks.

In August 2026, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Flores island in East Nusa Tenggara province, followed by a second 6.9 magnitude quake off Sumatra. More than 12,000 people were displaced, over 900 homes were damaged and dozens of lives were lost. 

This follows the flash floods and landslides that hit Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra in late November 2025, which damaged more than 300,000 homes, displaced 106,000 people and impacted more than 4,500 schools.

These successive disasters show how quickly a single emergency can escalate into a prolonged crisis for children in Indonesia, disrupting their safety, education and access to basic services for months at a time.

Save the Children has worked in Indonesia for decades, launching responses to major disasters including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake, the 2022 Cianjur earthquake and the 2025 Sumatra flash floods and landslides.

Following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara province, more than 8,000 children are facing safety risks and disruptions to their education. Save the Children is assessing needs on the ground with a local partner organization to determine how to respond.

Investing in our Children's Emergency Fund (CEF) is one of the fastest and most effective ways to support children in Indonesia affected by natural disasters.

Our Children's Emergency Fund means we can act as soon as a crisis hits and deliver lifesaving support when it matters most. It means we have funds ready when a disaster strikes, so we don't have to wait to reach children in crisis.