Cash Transfers in Emergencies: The case of Indonesia and Vietnam

In October 2009, typhoon Ketsana brought heavy rains over Vietnam causing sudden and heavy flooding, which led to considerable loss of lives, shelters and livelihoods. Around the same time, an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale struck the island of Sumatra in Indonesia causing massive loss of life and property.

HelpAge International (HelpAge) responded in Indonesia and Vietnam with a onetime cash grant to the older people from affected households. This evaluation was conducted a year after the cash grant was provided, and this is aimed at internal learning for HelpAge and its partners on the relevance and effectiveness of cash grants as one emergency response.