Giving Compass' Take:

• After the tsunami that swept through parts of Indonesia, aid groups are pushing their way through debris and damaged roads to reach new areas and try to help the survivors, but the scope of the devastation is daunting.

• What can we do to support the first responders in natural disasters? How can we make sure donations go to the right places and help the most vulnerable people?

• Here's how to give purposefully to victims of natural disasters.

Nearly a week after an earthquake struck Sulawesi, spawning a massive tsunami that overwhelmed the Indonesian island's central coast, aid groups are finally getting a foothold in the badly battered region — though challenges remain immense for relief and recovery efforts.

"Some people are now receiving basic food items like rice, noodles and canned food, but this remains a small minority. The food situation in Palu remains dire, and with the market closed we're even struggling to feed ourselves," said Genadi Aryawan, a Mercy Corps team member stationed in the city.

The tsunami that swept Sulawesi hammered Palu the hardest of the cities in its path. Of the more than 1,500 people who were killed in the catastrophe, the vast majority hailed from the city of nearly 300,000. And days later, fuel, sanitation and reliable information are still in short supply.

Read the full article about aid groups in Indonesia by Colin Dwyer and Bill Chappell at NPR