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Save the Children is ready to respond to the needs of 5,000 displaced children and their families, after intense torrential rain caused low-lying areas of Jakarta to flood. It is the Indonesian capital's worst floods in five years, with water levels rising as high as ten feet. According to Indonesia's disaster agency, more than 15,000 people have been forced to leave their homes.

"Children are always most vulnerable in these situations," said Ricardo Caivano, country director for Save the Children in Indonesia. "We are especially worried about children who may have been separated from their parents during the flooding. Children are also less likely to be able to cope with torrents of floodwater, especially if they cannot swim."

Weather forecasters predict that intense rain will persist throughout the week. A city-wide state of emergency has been declared, and will apply until at least January 27.

Save the Children has worked in Indonesia for the past 37 years and quickly delivers humanitarian relief after the nation's frequent earthquakes and other disasters.

Since 1976, Save the Children's reach has grown enormously in the country. Today, we work to improve the lives of children in 14 provinces across Indonesia. Our program approach now brings long term and sustainable benefits to more Indonesian children and we work to establish effective, self-sustaining approaches to issues related to child protection, health, education, livelihoods, emergency response and disaster risk reduction. Save the Children partners with children, communities, local organizations and the government of Indonesia to transform the lives of Indonesian children and their families.

Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous country, home to some 240 million people. Widespread poverty, political instability and regional separatism hinder Indonesia’s development. The severe inequity of resource distribution to many parts of the country affect children disproportionately in their early and developing years. Natural disasters plague the country, which was hard hit by the epic earthquake and tsunami of late December 2004, causing widespread devastation in Aceh Province. Indonesia has more than 76 million children, the fourth largest child population in the world.

Malnutrition threatens the health and well-being, and ultimately the future, of Indonesian. In Indonesia, national data indicate 28% of children under 5-years-old are underweight for their age. And the stunting rate in children is 37% — an indicator of chronic undernourishment.

In Indonesia, funds will help improve feeding practices, health education and early childhood development services. Interactive feeding sessions and cooking demonstrations will teach families how to make healthy, affordable choices and improve their feeding practices and care for young children. In addition, programs will enhance children's early cognitive and social development to improve their nutrition, health and education status.

Save the Children has worked in Indonesia for more than threes decades. In recent years, it has responded to nearly all minor, medium-sized and major natural disasters in the country. In addition to providing immediate relief to children and families after a disaster, we help communities prepare for emergencies and reduce risks posed by disasters in the future.

The Asia tsunami of December 26, 2004 struck Indonesia with what could be called the biggest catastrophe in modern history. Thanks to the outpouring of support from donors, the once devastated province of Aceh is a remarkably different place than in the aftermath of the December 2004 tsunami. Today, it is bustling with vibrant communities, new businesses and bright hopes for the future. Read a comprehensive report about our efforts: REBUILDING LIVES AFTER THE TSUNAMI: THE CHILDREN’S ROAD TO RECOVERY

In 2010, Save the Children provided relief supplies to families who have sought refuge from the ongoing eruptions of Mt. Merapi. We worked around the clock to protect children still in harm’s way of Indonesia’s deadly volcano. Save the Children distributed more than 7,100 hygiene kits to families who have sought refuge in temporary shelters. We also provided 12,000 face masks to children in schools in Boyolali District and another 6,000 face masks to evacuees in camps.