CARE Australia is appealing to the public to help fund its relief effort for those on Indonesia’s Lombok Island who have been affected by Sunday’s magnitude-7 earthquake, and repeated quakes and tremors.

More than 150,000 people have been made homeless by the earthquakes, with major damage caused to basic infrastructure, including telecommunications, roads and schools.

“People now urgently need medical support, clean water, food and a safe space to sleep,” said Helen Vanwel, CARE’s Country Director in Indonesia.

“We’re working with our local partners to ensure we get aid where it’s needed most.”

CARE is working closely with its local partners in Indonesia to deliver shelter kits, blankets and other household items to people on Lombok.

Donations received by CARE Australia will directly support those efforts.

CARE has worked in Indonesia since 1967, initially focused on food distribution, small infrastructure projects, health, the environment, and water and sanitation. In 2004, CARE Indonesia was one of the primary emergency responders after the Boxing Day Tsunami.

CARE Australia is an international humanitarian aid organisation. Last year, CARE directly reached more than 14 million people through humanitarian response work. Donations to CARE Australia’s Lombok Emergency Crisis Appeal can be made at www.care.org.au/lombok

For interviews with CARE staff in Indonesia, please contact Senior Media Advisor Sam Bolitho.