An international aid effort to help thousands of the victims of Indonesia's quake-tsunami disaster is underway in Palu city, the central province of Sulawesi.

At temporary shelters in Indonesia after the disasters (Source: VNA)

United Nations Under Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock said the UN has directed sending aid relief worth 15 million USD to Indonesia.

An official in charge of monitoring relief supply in Palu said aid has been sent to affected areas, adding that the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies deployed three vessels carrying relief goods, including canvases, sleeping bags and mosquito nets to Indonesia.

It also called for raising 20 million USD in support of the country. Nearly 20 nations worldwide proposed helping Indonesia overcome the disaster.

The Republic of Korea’s Huyndai Motor committed an aid worth 500,000 USD, including vehicles, to Indonesia and cigarette maker KT & G offered aid relief worth 88,700 USD.

Authorities have set 5 October as deadline to seek missing people.

A total of 1,424 people have been confirmed dead, over 2,500 injured and 114 others remain unaccounted for after the disaster struck on 29 September. More than 70,000 people have been forced to evacuate, mostly in Palu and Donggala coastal town.

Over 1,600 victims have been taken to capital Makassar of southern Sulawesi province via waterway, said a police officer.

(Source: VNA)