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As of Thursday, the death toll from that disaster stood at 2073 people but as many as 5000 people are still missing and their bodies are unlikely to ever be recovered. The search and rescue effort in Palu has now officially ended.
Whole neighbourhoods in Palu suburbs such Balaroa and Petobo were wiped out by soil liquefaction, and it is likely these areas will be turned into mass graves.
A preliminary assessment by the Bank of the damage done to Palu estimated the value of the infrastructure, homes and others property damaged at approximately $746 million - $254 million of that constituting damage to homes, $259 million to other property and $231 million in damage to infrastructure.
Villagers wait for any word on their missing relatives lost in the Balarola neighbourhood of Palu city.Credit:AP
The money promised by the Bank on Sunday would be used to aid the massive relief and reconstruction efforts already underway in Lombok and Palu.
World Bank chief executive Kristalina Georgieva said, following a visit to Palu on Friday, that she had been humbled to hear the stories of those who had their lives devastated.
"The government’s immediate relief efforts are robust and impressive. As we enter the reconstruction phase we are making up to $1 billion of comprehensive support available for Indonesia. The best memorial to those who lost their lives is build back better," she said.
From left, Indonesia's Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Melinda Gates and Chief Executive Officer of the World Bank Kristalina Georgieva attend a seminar ahead of the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Bali, Indonesia last week.Credit:AP
The $1.4 billion aid package could also allow for cash payments to 150,000 families affected by the disaster, and could also include financing to rebuild housing and critical public infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, bridges and roads.
Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said her government appreciated the support of the international community in our time of need, including from the World Bank Group.
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"Restoring lives and livelihoods of the people affected by natural disasters is the government's utmost priority," she said.
Survivors in some of the hardest-hit areas of Sulawesi and Lombok have been sharply critical of the Indonesian government's handling of the disaster response, complaining that aid has taken too long to get to them and has been insufficient.
After Lombok, the Indonesian government refused offers of international assistance from other governments and placed heavy restrictions on what international aid groups could do.
It did allow aid from national governments including Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, the UK in after the Palu earthquake, but only after days of dithering - and the Australian team sent in, for example, has already been asked to leave.
James Massola is south-east Asia correspondent, based in Jakarta. He was previously chief political correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, based in Canberra. He has been a Walkley and Quills finalist on three occasions.