Yayasan CARE Peduli (CARE Indonesia), in coordination with the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs (Kemenko PMK), will distribute CARE Package for Emergency to 200 families affected by the earthquake in Nagekeo District, East Nusa Tenggara.
The shallow tectonic earthquake that struck offshore approximately 30 kilometers northeast of Mbay, Nagekeo District, on Friday, August 15, 2026, at 5:58 a.m. Central Indonesia Time (WITA), caused fatalities and damage to homes and public facilities, while forcing thousands of residents to leave their homes.
According to data from the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Forum and the East Nusa Tenggara Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), as of Monday, August 17, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. WITA, 70 people had been reported dead, 305 injured, and more than 19,000 people displaced. More than 7,000 houses and 744 public facilities and infrastructure were also reported damaged.
CEO of Yayasan CARE Peduli (CARE Indonesia), Dr. Abdul Wahib Situmorang, explained that CARE continues to coordinate with the government and humanitarian partners while monitoring the needs of affected families, including the needs of women, children, elderly, and other groups in vulnerable situations.
“In an emergency, assistance must not only arrive quickly but also respond to the actual needs of every family member. CARE’s response takes into account the needs of women and children, including hygiene, menstrual health, clean water, safety, and the support in ensuring decent conditions in temporary shelters,” said Abdul.
Abdul added, the response will also be followed by a rapid needs assessment and rapid gender assessment. “We want to ensure that the next steps are not based solely on assumptions. We will listen directly to affected families, women, children, and communities to understand their most urgent needs and ensure that subsequent responses are more targeted, inclusive, and responsive to conditions on the ground,” he explained.
The relief packages have been designed to help meet families’ basic needs during the early emergency response period, which include:
- Hygiene and personal care packages, including toothpaste and toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, underwear, sanitary pads, and other hygiene supplies.
- Solar-powered lighting kits to support families living in areas with limited access to electricity and lighting.
- Water storage and filtration supplies, including buckets, jerry cans, filter cloths, and collapsible funnels. • Cooking utensils, including knives, glasses, frying pans, a steamer, portable stoves, and plates; and
- Emergency shelter supplies, such as tarpaulins, mosquito nets, sarongs, and jarit cloth.
The distribution of CARE Package for Emergency is planned to continue through the end of August 2026 and will be carried out in coordination with local authorities, emergency response posts, and local humanitarian networks.
Clean Water and Essential Supplies Remain Urgently Needed
For Densy, a resident of Aesesa Subdistrict, the earthquake turned an ordinary Friday morning into a moment of fear for her family.
“I was still in my room when the earthquake happened. The shaking was immediately very strong, so I took my children and went outside. Part of the house was damaged, and the water storage tank was also damaged, making access to clean water difficult,” said Densy.
Continued aftershocks have also made the family reluctant to return home. Densy said her family is staying in a simple bamboo shelter near their home and moving to an evacuation site in the evening as they feel that conditions are still unsafe.
“Electricity and the telephone network have been restored, but essential items such as medicines, sleeping mats, cooking equipment, hygiene supplies, and women’s needs are still difficult to obtain,” she added.
Collaboration to Ensure Assistance Reaches Those Who Need It Most
Assistant Deputy for Disaster Management at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs (Kemenko PMK), Merry Efriana said the central and local governments continue to strengthen collaboration with various stakeholders to ensure that the needs of communities affected by the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara are met quickly and appropriately.
“The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs (Kemenko PMK) greatly appreciates the support from Yayasan CARE Peduli through the distribution of 200 CARE Packages to communities affected by the earthquake in Nagekeo. This assistance is very meaningful in helping meet the basic needs of affected families, particularly those who remain displaced and are not yet able to resume their normal activities,” she said.
ENDS
For media enquiries contact Julia Dotras on 0494 396 407
About Yayasan CARE Peduli (CARE in Indonesia)
CARE Indonesia (Yayasan CARE Peduli/YCP) is a humanitarian organization focusing on disaster risk management, climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity conservation, environmental protection, gender equality, and social inclusion. CARE Indonesia is committed to tackling poverty and advancing social justice. Officially established as a national entity in 2018, YCP is a member of the global CARE International confederation. CARE has been present in Indonesia since 1967. Through a holistic resilience approach, CARE Indonesia applies integrated programming to address complex challenges, ensuring strong and sustainable outcomes. CARE Indonesia’s approach aligns with the sustainable development paradigm, balancing economic growth, environmental management, and social justice, with gender equality as a core foundation.
About CARE Australia
CARE Australia supports women around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. We work in partnership with local communities to provide equal opportunities for women that they have long been denied: the ability to earn an income, gain access to their fair share of resources, to lead and participate in decisions that affect their lives, and to be able to withstand the increasing impacts of climate disasters and other crises. www.care.org.au
