ReliefWeb

Just one year after the Dec. 26, 2004 devastating tsunamis struck Indonesia and 11 other countries bordering the Indian Ocean, Indonesian survivors began moving into a housing community built in Aceh Province by the Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation.

The US$27 million dollar project, started in September 2005 as part of Tzu Chi's long-term relief efforts in Indonesia, includes plans to build three housing communities with 3,700 units in Panteriek (3 km from downtown Banda Aceh), Neuheun (13 km from Banda Aceh), and Meulaboh (in western Aceh Province).

In Panteriek, a 15-hectare plot of land has been provided by the local government for construction of 710 houses. With 500 of these houses nearly completed, the first 120 tsunami-affected families moved into the community on Dec. 26, 2005.

Each house in the community has two bedrooms, one living room, one kitchen and one bathroom. Front yard and back yards are attached.

Tzu Chi provided each household with a double-sized bed, a single-sized bed, one table, four chairs, 20 kilograms of rice, a kerosene stove, blankets, and Muslim prayer carpets. Other daily necessities were given to the residents upon arrival at their new homes.

Accompanied by Tzu Chi volunteers, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited the Panteriek housing community on Dec. 27 to inspect the progress of the construction project. He was also given a briefing on Tzu Chi's relief efforts in the disaster area.

Tzu Chi has been involved with Indonesian tsunami relief from the early on. In the days immediately following the tsunamis, Tzu Chi airlifted emergency relief supplies and medicine to Banda Aceh from Jakarta and chartered airplanes to transport survivors from Banda Aceh to Medan.

Soon after, Tzu Chi founder Master Cheng Yen launched a fundraising campaign, urging Tzu Chi members across the world to solicit financial and spiritual support for the tsunami victims.

Over the past 12 months, Tzu Chi has distributed 7,000 tons of rice and set up 3,700 tents for the survivors in Aceh Province. Medical teams organized by the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) treated more than 20,000 patients.

In addition to 3,700 houses, Tzu Chi also plans to build schools, mosques, medical centers, playgrounds, sports grounds, community activity centers, and shops in the three housing communities. Tzu Chi expects all projects to be completed by the end of June 2006.

Impressed by Tzu Chi's thoughtful relief efforts, President Yudhoyono expressed gratitude toward Tzu Chi on behalf of his government and the Indonesian people. "I am grateful to Tzu Chi for their prompt and timely assistance," he said.

Before the moving-in ceremony was held at the Panteriek housing community on Dec. 26, TIMA medical personnel provided medical services, including surgical procedures, for some 210 patients at a free clinic at Banda Aceh's RS. Keesdem Iskandar Mudau Hospital. Twenty-four doctors, 26 nurses and over 100 volunteers from Taiwan and Indonesia participated in the Dec.24-25 free clinic.

Meanwhile, Tzu Chi's efforts to help tsunami victims in Sri Lanka are continuing as scheduled. In Hambantota, a summer resort town in southeastern Sri Lanka, Tzu Chi is building a community with 649 houses and public facilities. The project is underway and should be completed by the end of March 2006.

In the first six months after the tsunami disaster, Tzu Chi pitched 296 tents and distributed 1,196 tons of rice to the survivors in Hambantota. Seven TIMA medical teams treated 27,072 patients over 35 days beginning Dec. 30, 2004. (End)