Land Area: 1,826,440 (Sq/Km)
Capital: Jakarta
Official Language: Bahasa Indonesia
Refugees: 16,397 (UNHCR 2004)
Literacy: 90.4% (UNDP 2006)
Under 5 Mortality Rate (per 1000 live births): 36 (UNICEF 2005)
IndonesiaSituation OverviewThe Aceh province of Indonesia was the region worst hit by the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami. An estimated 169,000 people died and a further 572,926 were displaced. In May 2006, an earthquake struck Java, Indonesia’s main island. More than 5,700 people died, and 38,000 were injured. The massive devastation to buildings meant that 1.5 million were left homeless. Following these disasters, these provinces faced serious humanitarian emergency situations, resulting in large scale displacement and severe shelter, food and health problems. Indonesia continues to be affected by a range of small and large scale disasters including floods, earthquakes and landslides.
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Our current work in IndonesiaAustcare has a team local and international staff based in Aceh and Jakarta. Our approach is to work collaboratively with community groups and other agencies, to identify the needs of local communities that are not being served by other organisations or the Indonesian Government. As a result of our successful program in Aceh, Austcare has permission from the Indonesian Government to extend its work in poverty reduction throughout Indonesia. Austcare’s work in Indonesia includes income generation, sustainable agriculture, and education. We aim to build people-to-people connections in pursuing our work. Revolving micro-credit schemes have been established in Aceh, enabling individuals and families to establish small businesses, or re-establish businesses that were destroyed by the tsunami. Austcare’s response to the devastation includes rebuilding a high school in Lhoknga, a village on the west coast of Banda Aceh. This project has been made possible through the Wollongong City Council and the Vietnamese Australian Buddhist Assistance Trust (VABAT). Austcare has been working with local NGOs to strengthen civil society through capacity building and implementing programs for disaster risk reduction and disaster preparedness. In Java, Austcare’s program is focused on recovery of livelihoods and improving food security in earthquake-affected areas, and aims to strengthen communities' preparedness for potential future disasters. Activities include micro loans and business training to earthquake-affected businesspeople and farmers, and encouraging participants to source alternative fuels for environmental sustainability and sustainability of their businesses. HighlightsAceh: - Local NGOs and communities provided with training in Participatory Vulnerability Assessment and Disaster Risk Reduction practices. 60 people representing a variety of agencies have participated in a Disaster Preparedness Forum which allowed participants to further develop DRR practice and theory appropriate to local needs. - Local NGOs and their partner organisations provided with organisational development training, mentoring and support. We have also assisted with education and awareness-raising in the local community on issues such as community mobilisation, gender-based violence, protection, and economic, social and cultural rights. - Austcare is working with vulnerable community members to help them build restore livelihoods and businesses from waste management and recycling, by providing small grants. The project extends to Nias also. - 40 brick factories that were damaged in the tsunami rehabilitated in Aceh, employing around 500 workers and producing the materials required to construct new homes. Nias: - Austcare is working with community groups to strengthen civil society and the provision of basic social services, and improve the capacity of community groups to support their own communities through income generation activities.
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Ibu Atmo
Ibu Atmo lives in Karengwetan village, in Yogyakarta Province. She lives alone, as her husband died several years ago, and her 2 adult children live far away. In the earthquake that hit Java in May 2006, 90% of houses in her village were damaged, and 65% were completely destroyed. Ibu Atmo was sleeping when the earthquake struck. As soon as she felt the quake she managed to get outside the house, but was hit in the head by a falling rock. Her neighbours took her to hospital, where she stayed for three weeks. During that time, her village was assisted by Austcare and partner Yogyakarta NGO Cindelaras to build earthquake-proof temporary housing. Shelter was an immediate concern following the earthquake, and this housing took between three and seven days to construct (per house), and will last between five and 25 years. The Javanese villagers have a custom known as ‘gotong royang’, during which they work together to support the community. According to this custom, vulnerable people like Ibu Atmo had their homes rebuilt first. Every Sunday, the community continues to work together with support from Austcare in order to rebuild their village. Ibu Atmo is thankful to Austcare, and to her neighbours, for providing her with a home that keeps her safe and dry. She is healthy and strong again after her injury, and has been able to recover in her new house.
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