Habitat for Humanity Indonesia Distributes Emergency Shelter Kits to Families Affected by the Flores Earthquake

Nagekeo, August 31, 2026 – Habitat for Humanity Indonesia has begun distributing emergency assistance to families affected by the Flores earthquake, which struck several areas of East Nusa Tenggara on August 15, 2026. The assistance is part of Habitat Indonesia’s initial efforts to support the recovery of homes and living environments affected by the disaster.

With support from donors, Habitat Indonesia is distributing 100 Emergency Shelter Kits (ESKs) to affected families in five villages in Aesesa District, Nagekeo Regency. The assistance is being distributed to families in Aeramo, Marapokot, Nangadhero, Tonggurambang, and Waekokak villages.

The assistance packages have been tailored to the needs of affected families, helping them clear debris and carry out initial repairs to their homes, particularly those that sustained minor to moderate damage. The equipment is expected to help residents begin the process of restoring their homes while prioritizing safety.

As part of the handover, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia symbolically presented the ESK packages to the Nagekeo Regency Government, represented by Nagekeo Deputy Regent Gonzalo Gratianus Muga Sada, at the Nagekeo BPBD Emergency Response Post.

“On behalf of the people of Nagekeo, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the support provided, particularly the tools and equipment. This assistance is greatly needed by the community to clean up and repair damaged homes, which we hope can then be followed by the rehabilitation and reconstruction of residents’ houses,” said Nagekeo Deputy Regent Gonzalo Gratianus Muga Sada.

Supporting Home Repairs and Debris Removal

The assistance packages were prepared based on the needs identified among families in the field. In addition to providing temporary protection, the equipment included in the Emergency Shelter Kits can be used by residents to clear debris while supporting initial home repairs.

Each family receives one 2 x 25-meter tarpaulin sheet for temporary protection. The package also includes several construction tools, such as a medium-sized hammer, a handsaw, a crowbar, a shovel, a hoe with a handle, and two kilograms of nails measuring 7 cm and 10 cm.

To support residents’ safety while carrying out repair and cleanup work, each package is also equipped with two lengths of rope, six pairs of work gloves, one safety helmet, one pair of safety boots, and one pair of safety goggles.

The provision of these tools is part of Habitat Indonesia’s approach to ensuring that affected families receive not only temporary protection but also initial support to begin clearing and restoring their home environments.

An Initial Step Toward Long-Term Recovery

The distribution of Emergency Shelter Kits marks the first phase of Habitat Indonesia’s recovery efforts in areas affected by the Flores earthquake. Going forward, support will focus on more comprehensive housing and settlement recovery needs based on field assessment findings.

Recovery efforts will include the repair and strengthening of damaged structures, or retrofitting, particularly to improve the safety and resilience of homes against future disaster risks.

Habitat Indonesia will also support families in restoring access to safe water and sanitation, including through education and training on hygiene and sanitation practices under the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) approach.

In addition, the Build Back Safer approach will be an important part of the recovery process. This approach encourages homes that are repaired or rebuilt not simply to be restored to their pre-disaster condition, but to become safer and more resilient to future disaster risks.

Recovery support will also extend to affected public facilities, including schools and community health centers, so that communities can regain safe and adequate access to essential education and healthcare services.

Post-disaster recovery takes time and requires support from many different stakeholders. Therefore, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia continues to invite #SahabatHabitat to take part in supporting families affected by the Flores earthquake.

Community support will help strengthen the recovery process, from providing emergency assistance and supporting home cleanup and repairs to rebuilding safer and more resilient homes for affected families.

Let us stand together with families affected by the Flores earthquake as they rebuild their homes and lives. Donations can be made via bank transfer or QRIS through the campaign flyer below.

Writer: Kevin Herbian

Graphic: Tias Ester Widhari

(kh/av)