Bangladesh Cyclone Appeal, 2007
On Thursday 15 November 2007, Cyclone Sidr triggered a six metre high tidal wave that crashed into the south-west coast before sweeping north over the capital Dhaka.
More than 3,500 people died, and a further 40,000 were injured. More than 1.4 million homes were damaged or destroyed, according to UN figures. The main damage was caused in the coastal districts of Khulna, Barisal, Borguna and Mongla.
The area is one of the most impoverished parts of Bangladesh, itself one of the world's poorest countries. The recent floods in July caused significant crop loss in northern and central areas. The combined impact of these two disasters to this country is predicted to be massive.
Austcare's Response
In partnership with ActionAid, Austcare supported organisations on the ground in Bangladesh, providing food, cooking materials, water, clothing and medicine. Assistance was given to 15,000 disaster survivors (3,000 families) in two of the worst affected districts, Khulna and Bagerhat.
Timor-Leste Crisis Appeal , 2007
In August 2007, Austcare launched an emergency appeal in response to the outbreak of ethnic and political violence that followed elections in Timor-Leste.
Homes were looted and burnt down during the outbreak, leaving an estimated 9,000 people homeless. While some were able to find shelter in public buildings, many were forced to flee to jungle and mountain areas in fear of the violence. They were without food, clean water, and shelter.
With an average daily national income below $0.50, poverty in Timor-Leste is endemic. Local district authorities are short on resources and have no capacity to provide for populations displaced to areas with no access to essentials or income.
Austcare's Response
As part of its response, Austcare delivered clothing for adults and children throughout the Watulari section of Viqueque district, along with nearly 1800 packs of books, pens and school bags to replace scarce educational supplies lost when local families were forced to flee.
As part of its longer-term strategy Austcare is finalising the creation of a seven person Timor-Leste Protection Team. The team will largely use motorbikes to reach displaced people in some of the worst affected areas of the country. The officers will help them access available services, or evaluate what services are required in an area and work to have them established. To date, Austcare has facilitated the safe return of 600 displaced people to their homes.
Lebanon Crisis, 2007
During the hostilities between Israel and Lebanon, hundreds of thousands of people fled their homes. In Lebanon alone, an estimated 800,000 people were forcibly displaced, and another 215,000 fled the country.
After the cessation of hostilities, the majority of families returned to their homes and villages, but many found their homes destroyed. It is estimated that 250,000 people remain displaced in schools and public places, 45% of these being children. It is believed that another 200,000 are staying with host families and there are approximately 55,000 refugees in Syria, Jordan, Cyprus and the Gulf area.
Most recently, in May 2007, conflict erupted in Nahr al-Bared camp between the Lebanese Government and Islamist militants. An estimated 15,000 refugees poured out of the besieged Nahr al-Bared camp, and fled to the relative safety of Bourj el-Barajneh camp in Beirut.
Austcare's Response
Austcare worked with local partners, including Norwegian People's Aid (NPA), to procure and distribute emergency relief items. Funds raised helped to provide food and non-food items including medicines, first aid materials and kitchen sets to people displaced in Beirut, Sidon and other affected areas. Our focus was on women, children and those most vulnerable, including people with disabilities, and on meeting the needs of the many families sheltering in schools and public gardens or unable to flee unsafe areas.
Java Earthquake, 2006
On the 27th of May 2006 an earthquake measuring 6.2 devastated the central parts of Java, Indonesia causing massive damage and loss of life to one of the most densely populated regions on earth.
Nearly 6,000 people died, 20,000 were injured, and 100,000 lost their homes. Of those injured, many sustained broken bones, fractures, and serious head injuries.
Austcare's Response
Austcare provided emergency relief items to 350 children and 1,000 women in 25 villages. Items included baby food, milk, soap and clothing. Austcare also provided temporary shelter for 1,000 families.
In addition, Austcare worked in partnership with ActionAid International (AAI) to provide medical care. They set up mobile clinics in areas where the hospitals were destroyed, and treated around 60 patients per day.
The medical personnel worked with the local Tigers Motorcycle Club to travel to areas inaccessible by car. The Tigers are volunteers, donating their time and the use of their bikes. The Tigers also rode out to other remote communities, conducting needs assessments and delivering valuable information back to the Austcare/AAI team.
Timor-Leste conflict, 2006
In May 2006, violent conflict erupted among police, the military, and armed gangs in Dili, Timor-Leste's capital city. Thousands of people fled their homes in fear of the violence, only to have their homes looted and in many cases, burnt down.
Around 100,000 people were left homeless, including many women and children. They were forced to seek shelter in churches and other public places, or live in makeshift shelters. There was an immediate need for shleter, medical supplies, food and water.
Austcare's Response
Austcare's existing Timor-Leste office remained operational throughout the conflict. Austcare provided camp managment to three displcement camps, including the largest camp in Timor-Leste. We worked to ensure that there were adequate services and protection for people who lost everything. Austcare also sent a Child Protection Officer to ensure children in vulnwerable positions were safe.
In the longer term, Austcare extended our peacebuilding program through schools and community organisations in Dili. The program had previously been running in the western regions of the country, where it had considerable success in reducing violence and buiding a sense of community. Over 17,000 people have participated in the peace, reconciliation, and human rights training.
SouthEast Asia Tsunami, 2004
The Boxing Day 2004 tsunami was the largest scale natural disaster for decades. Most countries bordering the Indian Ocean were affected, with more than 225,000 people killed in eleven countries. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand were hardest hit.
Austcare’s Response
Austcare’ response focused on two of the hardest hit areas: Aceh (Indonesia) and Sri Lanka. Immediately following the tsunami, Austcare provided people in Aceh with urgently needed items including food, kitchen utensils, kerosene supplies for cooking and clothes. In Sri Lanka, Austcare funded emergency shelter packages through the UNHCR emergency shelter campaign.
Austcare continues to provide longer term assistance to tsunami affected people in Aceh, Indonesia and in Sri Lanka. In Aceh, we have provided fishing boats and a school bus, assisted women to re-establish businesses, and supplied seeds and other agricultural inputs to farmers. In Sri Lanka we assisted a local NGO to put in place prevention and protection measures for women and girls at risk of sexual and gender based violence.
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