It’s just over two years since the Mentawai tsunami in October 2010 and it’s inspiring to see the resilience of the local people who have managed to pick themselves up and move forward.

The disaster killed more than 500 people and left thousands homeless. SurfAid embarked on a one-year recovery program to help them get back on their feet.

Communications director Kirk Willcox returned to the field recently with a filmmaker Sascha Ettinger Epstein. He writes:

When a massive 8.6 earthquake hit this year off the shores of Northern Sumatra, Indonesia on April 11, 2012, the communities in Banda Aceh where CRWRC had been working during the tsunami, knew exactly what to do. As they sounded a tsunami alert and evacuated everyone from their villages along specially designed roads, they were fearfully reminded of another earthquake and tsunami that had occurred eight years earlier with devastating results.

This report covers the period 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011.

Programme outcome The purpose of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) programme is to support the institutional capacity-building of the Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia/PMI), and facilitate a coordinated approach of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement in supporting PMI‟s programmes and development in Indonesia.

During the Mentawai Tsunami Recovery Program, SurfAid worked with partner arche noVa to implement clean water facilities. Besides hardware, arche noVa also tried to increase awareness about hygiene practice. Although some public latrines were built by different international NGOs (non-governmental organisations), most of the community members were defecating in the open, in the forest or river.

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It’s just over a year since the earthquake and tsunami hit the Mentawai Islands on October 25, 2010. SurfAid was at the forefront of the emergency response. Once again, our experiences revealed to us the extent to which knowledge, resourcefulness and global community spirit can save lives. Helping people prepare for and deal with the recurrent natural disasters that are part of life in this region has become part of SurfAid’s mission.

WAM Abu Dhabi, Oct 21st, 2011 (WAM)--The UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) has signed an agreement with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to jointly sponsor 5, 000 Indonesian orphans, victims of Tsunami in Indonesia.

The deal was signed by Mohammed Khalifa Al Qamzi, Secretary General of RCA and Ambassador Atta Al Manan Behkit, Assistant Secretary General of OIC for Humanitarian Affairs.

Period covered by this final report: 25 October 2010 to 30 June 2011
Appeal target (current): CHF 5,038,981
Appeal coverage: To date, the appeal is 61 per cent covered in cash and kind.

Appeal history:

• The revised emergency appeal was launched on 19 November 2010 for CHF 5,038,980 in cash, kind, or services to support Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI) to assist up to 100,000 beneficiaries in Merapi operation and 3,750 beneficiaries in the Mentawai operation.

“Action without well planning and concept creates another disaster. Just wait and see and the disaster will surely happen.” Before the tsunami struck in the end of 2010, Mentawai has already deal with lots of crisis such as health issues; the growth of deadly disease and mothers died in birth; education issues where low education level existed; infrastructure issues where there is no proper road access and bridges. Despite the entire crisis happened, communities in Mentawai are living in the harmony with their modest life style.

Period covered by this operations update: 7 October 2009 - 30 June 2011

Appeal target (current): CHF 14,219,542

Appeal coverage: With contributions received to date, the appeal is fully covered in cash and kind.

Appeal history:

• This operations update extends this appeal’s operational timeframe up to 31 August 2011. A final report will be issued by 30 November 2011.