Emergency medical teams reach flood victims in Indonesia
Floodwaters overtook bridges and roadways throughout areas surrounding the Bone and Balango rivers.
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GORONTALO, Indonesia - Days of torrential rains on the island of Sulawesi triggered massive flooding in the district of Gorontalo last week, adding to the list of disasters plaguing Indonesia in recent months.
Both the Bone and Balango rivers overflowed, flooding more than half a dozen sub-districts and forcing the collapse of major bridges.
An estimated 4,754 residents evacuated to government barracks and local hospitals, their homes damaged or destroyed by floodwaters, mud and debris. Within days of the flooding, Operation Blessing Indonesia sent a team of four doctors and two paramedics to provide emergency medical treatment to evacuees.
Medical problems such as diarrhea, colds, fevers and skin diseases are the most common, said OBI staff, and require immediate, intensive treatment.
Operation Blessing staff treated over 2,000 patients within five days of the flooding.
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In the five days following the flooding, Operation Blessing partnered with Gorontalo State University to treat over 2,000 patients in six districts.
Operation Blessing Indonesia has provided medical and educational services to 733,516 persons in 1,354 locations in Indonesia since 1999.
HOW YOU CAN HELP As disasters continue to strike Indonesia, Operation Blessing is there to respond. Apart from providing medical aid to flood victims, staff is still providing aid to Central Java earthquake victims as well as ongoing recovery programs (medical, housing and microenterprise projects) for tsunami victims. You can help ease the suffering of victims of natural disasters by taking part in Operation Blessing's relief efforts by making an online donation today. Thank you for reaching out to those in need!
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