Chile Earthquake - SAVE THE CHILDREN APPEAL

The earthquake hit 70 miles (115 km) northeast of Concepcion - the second largest city in Chile with a population of around 900,000 - at around 3:34 am (0634 GMT) on February 27.

Children are always among the most vulnerable in such a huge earthquake - suffering extreme trauma from the disaster, as well as trying to cope with being separated from parents and close family in the chaos, and the loss of their relatives.



Our support will focus specifically on the needs of those children — keeping them safe, and ensuring they can get back to school where possible.

We are also deeply concerned that the poorest communities in the affected areas will suffer the most, with less access to food and shelter. Support to them must be a priority.

Destruction is likely to be extensive — reports already include significant damage to hospitals - and we have a team of emergency experts on standby to head out to Chile for a detailed rapid assessment.

Chile’s capital Santiago, around 200 miles (320 km) north of the epicentre, was also badly hit, with its international airport forced to close as the quake destroyed passenger walkways and shook glass out of doors and windows.

Powerful aftershocks continue the rock the region, and a tsunami was also triggered by the quake, hitting the Juan Fernandez islands (also known as Robinson Crusoe Islands) off the Chilean coast.

Residents from the coastal areas of Chile's remote Easter Island are being evacuated, and a Pacific-wide tsunami warning has been issued for countries in Latin America, Hawaii as well as Japan, Russia, Philippines, Indonesia and the South Pacific.



We are releasing funds from our Children’s Emergency Fund to support the relief effort. Please give whatever you can - you really will make a huge difference.