April 24, 2007

Massive floods following torrential rains during the final weeks of December 2006 devastated Langkat District, in Indonesia's North Sumatra Province, as well as several districts in Aceh Province.

One of the worst affected areas, which accounts for a large proportion of those affected and displaced, is Aceh Tamiang District.

According to data from the local government disaster response co-ordination office in the Tamiang District, a total of 200,000 people in 12 sub-districts were affected by the flooding. The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) earlier this year already stood at 53,116 people (12,337 households) dispersed in 178 temporary shelters / settlements. At least 24 were killed in the flooding.

The floods washed away 2,264 houses and severely damaged another 7,245, with 14,078 houses lightly damaged. One-hundred fifty three schools (98 primary schools, 36 junior high schools and 19 high schools) were damaged, as were around 15,749 hectares of rice fields and 1,940 hectares of horticulture plantations. Sixty mosques, 491 kilometers of roadway, and 1,348 bridges in the 12 sub-districts were heavily damaged.

Church World Service-Indonesia and two of its partners and fellow members of the Action by Churches Together (ACT) International alliance, Yakkum Emergency Aid and Yayasan Tanggul Bencana di Indonesia, received $50,000 from the ACT Rapid Response Fund to provide the most urgent relief items in the first weeks following the disaster. CWS has also received a $60,000 pledge from Norwegian Church Aid for longer-term water and sanitation and shelter programs.

Background

To date, CWS has distributed various non-food items--1,000 blankets, 1,000 hygiene kits, 896 Baby Kits and 1,000 School Kits--as well as tools such as spades and wheel barrows to help with clearing the mud and debris. With support from Norwegian Church Aid, Church World Service has been constructing emergency latrines, cleaning wells, installing a water purification unit and water bladders, and tankering water in four sub-districts, supplying around 50,000 liters of water a day through 19 distribution points--assisting some 6,500 beneficiaries in all.

CWS has also constructed 269 emergency latrines and cleaned 261 wells in 14 villages and distributed 418 tents and 582 tarpaulins.

While the flood waters have receded and the economic and government activities are starting to recover, many internally displaced persons remain in camps unable or too scared to return home. Further support is still needed, especially in the areas of water and sanitation and shelter.

While in some sub-districts the local / municipal water network still functions, assistance is also needed to provide clean water and clean the wells which are the main water source for many. Access to latrines is also limited.

The floods have also swept away people's livelihoods--their tools, their food stocks, their household assets and, in some cases, their homes and belongings. With their fields covered in mud and all their possessions gone, the flood-affected people in Aceh Tamiang face an uphill battle.

Planned response

In this response, CWS is assisting 10,325 direct beneficiaries in five sub-districts in Aceh Tamiang District, Aceh Province with the following objectives:

To provide access to water supply and sanitation facilities for 4,500 direct beneficiaries in 14 villages in Sekerak, Bandar Pusaka, Kuala Simpang, Kejuruan Muda and Karang Baru sub-districts, Aceh Tamiang District.

To provide shelter materials and tents to 953 direct beneficiaries in Sekerak, Tamiang Hulu and Bandar Pusaka sub-districts, Aceh Tamiang District.

To provide non-food items such as CWS Health Kits, Baby Kits, School Kits, and Blankets to 4,872 direct beneficiaries in Sekerak, Rantau, and Bandar Pusaka sub-districts, Aceh Tamiang District.

Involving the community at every step

In implementing the activities, the target beneficiaries are involved in the process. CWS believes that by involving the target beneficiaries in the program it will enhance their dignity and their sense of belonging to the program, and build confidence and self-esteem. The target beneficiaries will be involved in the response's implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

Contributions to support this emergency appeal may be sent to your denomination or to Church World Service, Indonesia (Tamiang, Sumatra) Floods - Account #6986, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515. Contributions may also be made by credit card online, or by calling: 800-297-1516, ext. 222.

Media Contacts: Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org Jan Dragin (24/7), 781-925-1526; jdragin@gis.net