Queen shares message of support for Indonesia earthquake victims as aid appeal launches

The Disasters Emergency Committee has started an appeal to help those who have lost everything in the Indonesian earthquake and tsunami disaster.

It's thought that more than 1,400 people have died - more lives could be at risk if clean drinking water and food doesn't need those who need it most.

Solid earth turned to liquid during the disaster which, on Thursday, had claimed the lives of more than 1,400 people. Authorities are working to excavate thousands of buildings, carefully unpicking debris in the hope of finding survivors following the natural disaster.

Desperation is growing in the city. Devastated by a earthquake then battered by a tsunami; daily routines have been ripped apart and replaced with a search for food, fuel and water. Thousands are now homeless - living in temporary shelters in parks and among the ruins of the buildings they once called home.

Rescuers are continuing to pull bodies out of the the twisted shells of buidlings that were destroyed in the disaster. Thousands of people have lost their homes and livelihoods.

Royals share condolences

Today, British aid will start to reach those who have been worse affected by the disaster. An RAF plane has flown emergency supplies to Indonesia following the tragedy. Agencies are warning that if aid doesn't reach the worst affected areas soon, the humanitarian tragedy could worsen.

Meanwhile, HRH the Queen has shared a message to the people of Indonesia expressing her and the royal families sorrow at the disaster.

The bulletin said: "I was extremely sorry to hear about the terrible earthquake and tsunami in Sulawesi at the end of last week, particularly given these events happened so soon after the recent earthquake in Lombok.

Prince Philip and I send our sincere condolences to all those affected by the disaster and their families."

Good Morning Britain's Richard Gaisford is in Palu, a city in Indonesia that has been badly affected by the earthquake. People are queueing for fuel to run generators in the absence of mains elecricity, the country's military is guarding petrol stations to stop the outbreak of civil unrest.

This Disasters Emergency Committee appeal cannot come soon enough, I would say. Having been in the refugee camps around this disaster zone, you're meeting families - all of whom have lost somebody. > These are people who have lost almost everything else. Their homes have either been washed away or buried under rubble. Certainly we're seeing families who are worried about their food supply, getting the drinking water that they need and the medical aid that they need. What we are seeing on the streets is pretty small scale stuff - and they need that bigger international movement of aid to come in and to come in quickly.

How you can help

You can help those affected by the tragedy in Indonesia by supporting the Disasters Emergency Committee fundraiser.

For more information about the appeal, visit the Disasters Emergency Committee website or call 01204 770822.