Indonesia — humanitarian situation

Indonesia faces overlapping disasters as communities continue responding to a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara Province on 15 August 2026, while forest and land fires persist across parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan. The earthquake, which was centred approximately 30 kilometres northeast of Mbay in Nagekeo District at a depth of 15 kilometres, triggered a tsunami advisory and has been followed by thousands of aftershocks that continue to prevent many families from returning to damaged homes IFRC. As of 24 August, authorities confirmed 91 deaths, with women and children comprising 48 of the fatalities (Plan International). The National Disaster Management Agency BNPB reported 161,084 people remained displaced across seven affected districts: Manggarai Barat, Manggarai, Manggarai Timur, Ngada, Nagekeo, Ende and Sikka (Plan International, IFRC). Infrastructure damage has been extensive, with 11,950 houses damaged including 5,518 severely damaged, and critical damage to 502 educational facilities, 237 health facilities, 396 houses of worship, and 504 office buildings (Indonesian Humanitarian Coordination Platform). The education sector has seen particularly severe disruption, with 177,678 students and 21,166 teachers and education personnel affected across 1,378 education units, and 5,521 classrooms damaged as of 21 August MPBI. Health concerns are mounting in displacement sites, with the Ministry of Health recording 5,931 cases of acute respiratory infection across the affected districts by 24 August MPBI. Water access remains a critical gap, prompting CARE Indonesia to launch a 60-day clean water distribution programme beginning 24 August, targeting delivery of up to 900,000 litres to evacuation centres to meet the basic needs of approximately 1,000 people daily CARE. Simultaneously, forest and land fires have intensified across Sumatra and Kalimantan since mid-July amid prolonged dry conditions and the peak dry season. The Government of Indonesia has prioritized response operations in six provinces: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan, with additional fires reported in East and North Kalimantan IFRC. Fire suppression remains particularly challenging in peatland areas and remote locations with limited access IFRC. Response coordination for the earthquake is being led by BNPB in collaboration with the Indonesian Red Cross PMI and the Indonesian Humanitarian Coordination Platform, though ongoing aftershocks and widespread infrastructure damage continue to complicate relief delivery across affected areas.