The Republic of Indonesia in Southeast Asia comprises more than 13,000 islands. Indonesia’s population grows by 3 million each year, placing even more strain on enormous unemployment levels and poverty. Conflict and violence in Indonesia has traumatized the lives of children in particular on an enormous scale.
Indonesia is still reeling from the devastating 2004 Tsunami which claimed more than 2 50,000 lives. Schools, roads, water and sanitation systems were completely destroyed. The psychological impact of the Tsunami remains. In one day a disaster unparalleled in its destructive capacity struck, with Indonesia at the center. A series of earthquakes has followed since, continuing to hold people captive to fear. Children were orphaned, their homes washed away, their livelihoods destroyed. Today nearly 28% of Indonesian children are malnourished, and HIV/AIDS infection rates are escalating.
Human trafficking is also a grave problem, as thousands of women, girls and boys are trafficked into the sex industry every year, creating severe emotional, mental and physical wounds within the children.
There are estimates of several million street children in Indonesia. These children face extremely difficult circumstances, constant harassment, abuse and nearly incessant fear. After the Tsunami left a swelling number of new children at-risk, orphaned and alone, the amount and severity of street children has only worsened.
Asian Pacific Children’s Fund is answering the needs of the children in Indonesia by providing homes and families, love and hope.
Learn more about our homes in Indonesia!
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