UN seeks $50.5 million for 'immediate' Indonesia disaster aid

The destructive earthquake and tsunami struck the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, killing more than 1,550 people and burying hundreds in mud and debris.

Families cry as they witness the bodies of their loved ones being evacuated from the ruined Mercure Hotel. Source: AP

The United Nations said Friday it is seeking $50.5 million "for immediate relief" to help victims of the devastating quake and tsunami in Indonesia.

The UN plan, developed in consultation with Indonesian government officials, outlines "how the humanitarian community working in the country will provide targeted, technical assistance."

More than 1,500 people died in last week's quake-tsunami, and local officials said Friday that more than a thousand people could still be missing.

A woman in her makeshift tent in the isolated village of Kulawi. Source: Getty Images

Hardest-hit was Palu city on Sulawesi island, which was left in ruins after it was struck by a powerful quake and a wall of water that reduced whole neighborhoods to piles of wood and twisted metal.

The UN plan aims to provide help to 191,000 people over the next three months, the statement said.

According to UN estimates, 65,000 homes have suffered some form of damage, a figure that includes 10,000 homes "completely destroyed by the tsunami" and 15,000 homes severely damaged by the earthquake.

"One week after the disaster, the full scale of the disaster and the needs are becoming clear," said Anita Nirody, the UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia.

Children and adults grab food being distributed by the military. Source: Getty Images

"Affected people, especially those who have lost their homes and all their belongings, require shelter, access to clean water, healthcare and psychosocial support."

The requested funding "will allow the international humanitarian community to more effectively support the response of the government and local organizations," she said.