Indonesia: Red Cross responds to 6.2-magnitude earthquake in Aceh

 A rapid response team of ten staff from the Red Cross headquarters in Jakarta were deployed to the affected area to assist with assessments, and health and medical services. Photo: Indonesian Red Cross Society

Published: 2 August 2013 17:36 CET

By Ahmad Husein and Madeline Wilson, IFRC

One month after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Aceh Province, Indonesia, the Red Cross continues to provide support to affected communities. Over 52,000 people were forced to flee their homes after the earthquake struck Aceh Tengah and Bener Meriah districts, killing 42 people and injuring over 2,500 people.

The Indonesian Red Cross Society – or Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI) – initially deployed 32 volunteers to reach both locations to assist with search and rescue operations, assess needs and distribute relief supplies. A rapid response team of ten staff from the Red Cross headquarters in Jakarta also deployed to the affected area to assist with assessments, and health and medical services.

 For 43-year-old Mahyudin, the earthquake occurred when he was on his way home from work in Aceh Tengah. His first thoughts were for the safety of his wife and their three children.

“The world seemed to end,” Mahyudin remembering the moment the earthquake struck. Mahyudin later found that part of his house had indeed collapsed, but his family were safe. They evacuated to a safer place with 40 other families from the neighbourhood and erected shelters. Later that evening, Mahydin’s entire house collapsed during the aftershocks that continued into the night.

Mahyudin’s family are one of the 1,500 families who have received clean drinking water from the five Red Cross water trucks – each one provides a total of 25,000 litres of water each day. Mahuydin’s son also attends the informal educational activities being carried out by Red Cross volunteers, to provide a place for children to play and learn while they are unable to go to school, as classrooms were damaged and school operations are currently on hold while teachers and families in the area begin to recover.

Mahyudin explained that he was worried about his son after the earthquake, but the support from the Red Cross has helped to create a sense of normality. “He is okay now, playing with his friends without any complaint. I am very relieved for him,” says Mahyudin.

Hundreds of earthquake survivors have received medical treatment from three Red Cross mobile health clinics. The clinic teams travelled in ambulances to remote areas, particularly in Aceh Tengah, and included doctors and nurses, while an orthopaedic surgeon supported operations in the Datu Beru Hospital in Takengon City, Aceh Tengah.

The Red Cross has distributed relief supplies in 24 villages, including over 600 family kits, 500 tarpaulins, 1,600 blankets, 200 baby kits, clothing and other essential supplies. The Red Cross has also distributed  20,000 zinc roof sheets to repair the roofs of 1,000 houses.

The operation being carried out by the Indonesian Red Cross Society is supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Funds from the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund have been released to support the distribution of essential supplies, health services, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene activities.

Thousands leave their homes following floods in Jakarta

Published: 22 January 2013 15:44 CET

By Ahmad Husein, Senior development and communication manager, IFRC Indonesia

The Indonesian Red Cross Society is assisting in the clean up after flood waters inundated parts of Jakarta, leaving 11 people dead, and the city’s transport network disrupted. Khairul Saleh, who works at the organization’s headquarters in Jakarta said his village of Rawa Buaya, Cengkareng was cut off by flood water, and dozens of people were evacuated to higher ground. Volunteers in the area also established shelters and set up a field kitchen to ensure everyone was fed.

In the wake of the floods, 230 Indonesian Red Cross staff and volunteers quickly responded to the flood hit Jakarta after two days torrential rain poured the capital city and outlying areas including Bogor, Bekasi and Tangerang. Thousands of people on the way to work were forced back home.

One of crucial parts in evacuation process is to make sure everybody was safely transferred to shelters. Many people living along the river bank of Ciliwung, were reluctant to leave their homes. Some left only when the water level reached dangerous levels and the situation became more serious, and the assistance of a search and rescue team was the only way out.

The Indonesian Red Cross Society sent out five water rescue teams in partnership with local authorities to search and save trapped residents in affected areas. Eventually, they rescued 100 residents in five villages around east and south Jakarta.

“We continue our searching by boat to ensure nobody left in flooded areas,” said Budi Pranoto, a field coordinator at East Jakarta chapter.

The organization has provided almost 25,000 meal packages per day for the 20,000 survivors currently living in tents and shelters.

Puji is staying at a shelter in a primary school in Kebon Baru, Tebet South Jakarta with her child. She said she felt lucky as Red Cross and local government erected tents to survivors and give them meals and clean water.

Though she is concerned for her parents insisted on staying at their house.  “I hope Red Cross can bring them here,” she said.

Recently the organization has undertaken promotional work to ensure that people in areas at risk of flood understand the most effective ways of keeping themselves and their families safe.

Nur Hasanah, 50, ilives in Kebon Baru, Tebet South Jakarta, a village which experienced a three metre flood. She chose to leave the house with her two children as soon as it became clear that floods were on the way. “Thank God all of us are safe,” she said.

Nur has been part of the Red Cross community-based action team for the past three year and has been involved in emergency planning in preparation for a flood or other disaster. She advised villagers on safe evacuation and is currently working in a field kitchen.

“It is always good to help people. And I’m good in cooking,” she said.

While the flood water is beginning to recede, the Indonesian Red Cross Society is urging everyone to stay on alert for more extreme weather predicted over the next few weeks.