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Veolia Foundation involved in humanitarian emergency mission in Palu, Indonesia

Under the emergency humanitarian operations organized by France’s Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs crisis centre following the earthquake in Indonesia on 28 September, the Veolia Foundation mobilized quickly: two AquaForce 2000 units and two Veoliaforce experts are currently on site to strengthen the rescue program and train the Indonesian Red Cross emergency teams to use the equipment.

At 6 pm on 28 September an earthquake followed by a tsunami hit Indonesia. On the island of Sulawesi, the city of Palu (350,000 inhabitants) and its region were particularly badly hit with over 2,100 dead, 4,600 seriously injured, 680 missing and nearly 212,000 displaced.

Eight weeks after the disaster, humanitarian aid for Indonesia is more necessary than ever. According to Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Centre, over 200,000 displaced people are in difficulty and need safe drinking water, electricity, shelter and emergency medical assistance. The risk of an epidemic makes the use of water purification equipment essential.

Mandated by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, two Veoliaforce experts joined France’s civil defence agency teams in Palu. They will be spending two weeks training Indonesian Red Cross emergency teams to use the two Aquaforce 2000 units.

Designed by the Veolia Foundation, these units purify raw water with a flow rate of 2 m3 / h. As many roads are still impassable they will be able to supply drinking water to isolated populations.

The intervention of the Veolia Foundation comes under the partnership concluded with the Quai d’Orsay to improve efficiency in emergency humanitarian situations.