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Storage of Food Aid in Aceh

Indonesia has a population of over 200 million people spread out across almost 18,000 islands in the Southeast Asian archipelago. Unfortunately, natural disasters are a common and frequent phenomena, causing loss of lives and livelihoods, destruction to property and environmental damage. The country is vulnerable to earthquakes due to its location at the intersection of three crustal plates - with much of this activity offshore under the sea - bringing the added risks of tsunamis. Indonesia has more earthquakes per year than any other country on earth. A part of the "Ring of Fire", Indonesia has more than 500 volcanoes, 128 of which are considered to be active. Many parts of the country are susceptible to drought resulting in crop failure and uncontrolled bush fires, exacerbating forest fires from the extensive forest logging. There are also over 5,000 rivers, 30% of which pass through high-density population centers and regularly cause floods - the most commonly recurring natural hazard in the country.

This page is an update on UN humanitarian and early recovery activities taking place across Indonesia.