IR in Aceh
Islamic Relief has worked in Indonesia since 2000, distributing food and assisting people affected by natural disasters. In Aceh province itself, IR was providing school equipment for children.
Because of its presence in Aceh, IR was one of the first agencies to respond to the tsunami disaster. One day after the tsunami, IR aid workers arrived in the stricken city of Banda Aceh and started administering first aid to survivors.
A few days later, IR had established an emergency response field office and began providing food, clean water, shelter, and basic hygiene and sanitation facilities.
Since then, IR has built schools, hospitals, homes and helped thousands of people return to work.
Education
The tsunami destroyed 976 schools and 105 kindergartens in Aceh. The widespread damage to educational infrastructure in the region was compounded by the death of more than 2,500 teachers in the disaster.
In January 2005, Islamic Relief began work to provide basic education for primary school children in the aftermath of the tsunami. Since then IR has built several schools and trained teachers
Building and Rehabilitating Schools in Aceh
Islamic Relief is building schools in the region. So far, 8 schools have been built and furnished. One school also acts as a teacher-training centre where 60 teachers have attended training sessions.
Back to School
Islamic Relief staff have distributed school uniforms to over 1,000 pupils in schools across Banda Aceh and Nias. The uniforms were made by tailors as part of Islamic Relief's livelihood project.
10,000 school bags have also been distributed to pupils in the region.
IR aid workers provided food supplements for 2,000 school children in 18 barracks.
Orphan Support
Over 75,000 children were orphaned by the tsunami, most now live in tents, in barracks or with extended family.
Islamic Relief set up an orphan welfare programme in March, 2005. So far, Islamic Relief donors have sponsored 350 orphans on a one-to-one basis, while hundreds of other orphans have benefited from IR's orphan support services.
Painting Exhibition
The orphans of the tsunami suffered the twofold impact of witnessing one the world's worst catastrophes and losing their parents. Signs of trauma, such as being unable to speak, are commonplace among children who survived the disaster.
Islamic Relief set up art therapy classes which allowed children to express themselves through the medium of art, and the orphans' paintings were put on display in Aceh's museum.
Health
In its wake, the tsunami left an already lacking health system in ruins. Two hospitals were destroyed along with 26 health care centres. IR is rehabilitating hospitals and building clinics in the affected area, and so far, 26,000 people have benefited from IR's health projects.
Building and Rehabilitating Hospitals and Clinics
Islamic relief rehabilitated the Permata Hati Hospital in Banda Aceh, including its maternal health department, paediatrics wards and laboratories.
IR aid workers have built 7 community health care centres in Aceh which are already serving the people.
In addition, four maternity clinics have been built in Aceh Basar.
Providing Health Services and Supplies
IR distributed 2 cargo plane loads of medical aid valued at $10 million.
Islamic Relief operated mobile clinics in March and April. IR paid for medical staff and the operational costs of ambulance services. The clinics served 5,000 people in Aceh.
Four ambulances have been purchased and donated to District Health Offices in Aceh.
IR aid workers also immunised 3,500 children against polio.
Training
IR provided training for 90 midwives and 30 hygiene specialists.
Water and Sanitation
For thousands of people in the barracks and crammed tent camps of Aceh, clean drinking water is hard to come by. IR is working to supply survivors with clean water, so far 66,400 people have benefited from IR's work.
In partnership with PLAN International, Islamic Relief began trucking water into settlements in January 2005. Five trucks deliver water to 17,000 people in 39 camps in Aceh every day.
In eight barracks, IR has installed a piping system that feeds water to almost 4,000 people.
Wells
The tsunami left most wells in the affected area polluted with salt water, so Islamic Relief has began drilling new wells. So far, 15 wells have been bored.
Sanitation
Islamic Relief has also installed 214 latrines in 20 locations in Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar. Hygiene training sessions have been organised in nine locations.
Livelihood
An estimated 800,000 people have lost their sources income and livelihood as a result of the tsunami.
Islamic Relief is working to help people recover their sources of income, and so far 20,000 have benefited from IR's projects. Islamic Relief provides loans and grants to help people set up or re-establish businesses, and has begun vocational training schemes and cash for work programmes.
IR is also employing people to rehabilitate public facilities damaged by debris from the tsunami.
Cash for Work
IR has provided 6,000 people with cash in return for work. Participants restored fish and shrimp ponds, cleaned roads, built drainage facilities and prepared land for housing construction.
IR also paid cash for planting mangroves on the coastline to prevent soil erosion.
Training
Islamic Relief provided 200 women with training in tailoring and embroidery, and 50 women in traditional handicrafts.
IR also funded the training of 50 men and women in electronics repair and 42 men in carpentry.
Fishing Boat Grants
Two fishing boats have been provided for fishermen in the village of Lambada Lhok and the island of Bunta.
In both of these locations, the boats are managed by the village, half of the income from fishing is taken by the fishermen, and the other half is pooled into a village fund. The money in the fund is available for all villagers to use.
In Bunta Island, Islamic Relief also built a landing-pier and provided for the basic needs of the community.
Rickshaw Grants
Islamic Relief teamed up with the Banda Aceh Rickshaw Association to help its members that lost their rickshaws in the tsunami.
IR purchased 50 new Honda motorcycle rickshaws and sold them at 50% of cost price to the association as part of a micro-credit programme.
Business Loans
Islamic Relief has provided over 400 business start-up packages. IR has supported many graduates of its training schemes to set up businesses. Also, IR has helped over 40 women's groups establish businesses.
Shelter
The tsunami destroyed around 141,000 homes across the north-western coastline of Aceh, in northern Sumatra. Many of those who survived the tsunami were given tents; others were housed in temporary barracks built by the government.
Immediately after the tsunami, Islamic Relief distributed 400 family sized tents among survivors, then went on to build permanent and earthquake resistant structures. 354 of these have already been completed.
The recipients include widows, people vulnerable to poverty, and staff of the Syia Kuala University who lost their homes and had moved into the university's lecture halls.
Public Works Resource Centre
Aceh's public works resource centre which contained by-laws and building codes was destroyed by the tsunami. Without this centre, reconstruction work in the region has been hampered by lack of building codes of practice.
Islamic Relief is rebuilding the resource centre to assist the UN and other international agencies with the reconstruction process in Aceh. Rebuilding the centre will also directly benefit over 10,000 people, including construction workers, brick makers and many others who will provide logistical support during the reconstruction.
The Response in Sri Lanka
Islamic Relief rapidly established offices in Ampara and Colombo and began work coordinating the emergency response in Nintavur.
Emergency Phase
Focussing on the Ampara region, Islamic Relief began distributing aid amongst the survivors. Just two days after the disaster, IR aid workers were distributing food packs, hygiene kits and tinned Qurbani meat. The priority was to prevent malnutrition and the spread of disease.
Recovery Phase
A month after the disaster, IR staff began working on the rehabilitation of areas affected by the disaster. During this phase IR staff helped to rehabilitate Nintavur hospital, and set to work restoring homes, providing clean water supplies and supporting orphans and widows.
Reconstruction Phase
The reconstruction and rehabilitation of the areas devastated by the tsunami is well underway. IR staff are currently working to provide survivors with long-term shelter.