On 15 August 2026, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off Flores Island in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province. Thousands of aftershocks followed in the days and weeks after, adding to the fear and uncertainty among the affected communities.
In the days following the earthquake, local organisation Yayasan Mahajana Sosial Fondasi Indonesia (YMSFI) with support from Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), began targeted, short-term response. Working alongside local healthcare workers, YMSFI focused on helping affected communities continue accessing medical and psychosocial care while supporting disrupted local health services.
One focus of the response was West Cibal district, which has a population of approximately 17,000 people. The earthquake had not only destroyed homes and left people dead or injured but severely damaged Wae Codi Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC), which serves approximately 80 per cent of the population of the district.
“When you see the extent of the damage, you understand how difficult the situation is for both the health workers and the community they serve. Although the building is no longer safe to use, staff resumed medical services the day after the earthquake and continued treating patients from temporary tents set up on a nearby football field.” said YMSFI president Dr. Lukman Hakim Bauty.
To support the health centre and reach people in more remote areas, YMSFI worked with local healthcare workers to conduct mobile clinics in Timbu, Golo Lanak and Wae Codi villages, where earthquake-related damage had cut off communities from essential services and healthcare. The team provided 737 medical consultations.
The most common health conditions treated included upper respiratory tract infections; body, muscle and joint pain; and digestive illnesses.
The most common health conditions treated included upper respiratory tract infections; body, muscle and joint pain; and digestive illnesses.
YMSFI also conducted psychosocial support activities for 130 children, aged four to 13, as well as basic psychoeducation sessions for women aged 35 to 45 in Timbu and Wae Codi.
Teams later returned to these villages to monitor trends in communicable diseases, including respiratory infections. Their findings are intended to inform recommendations to Wae Codi PHCC on measures to help prevent potential outbreaks.
“Even after the earthquake damaged health facilities, people still needed treatment, medication and routine care. Our priority has been to keep healthcare services running for affected communities while standing alongside the healthcare workers who are serving on the front lines despite facing the impacts of the disaster themselves,” said Lukman.
The response took place amid widespread needs across the affected region. As of 9 September 2026, Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency reported that 135 people had died while 1,764 were injured or have fallen ill. More than 60,000 people remained displaced, while 98,986 homes had been damaged as well as 157 healthcare facilities affected.
About two hours from Wae Codi, Ruteng Regional General Hospital (locally known as RSUD Ruteng), the main referral hospital for three western regencies (Manggarai, West Manggarai and East Manggarai) on Flores island, was completely damaged by the earthquake. To maintain essential health services for surrounding communities, the hospital established temporary structures, making it another key focus of YMSFI’s response.
At RSUD Ruteng, YMSFI provided basic psychosocial support sessions for patients and healthcare workers. In addition, healthcare workers from RSUD Ruteng and Wae Codi Primary Healthcare Centre were also trained in providing psychosocial first aid and stress management.
In the hospital’s temporary wards, the team distributed 150 essential-item kits to patients and caregivers. These included hygiene supplies, sleeping mats and blankets, as well as items tailored to the needs of maternity, paediatric and intensive care patients, such as sanitary pads, newborn blankets and diapers. YMSFI focused its support on patients and caregivers at RSUD Ruteng, many of whom were facing particularly challenging conditions following the earthquake and were in urgent need of assistance.
YMSFI is also supporting water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) improvements at the RSUD Ruteng’s temporary site. This support includes the installation of four latrines with septic tanks, 31 handwashing stations and 30 water tanks with approximately 2,200 litres of water storage capacity for hospital use, helping to maintain safe and dignified conditions for patients, caregivers and healthcare workers.
