The Challenge
The tsunami of 26th December 2004 was one of the most destructive disasters in modern history. Entire villages were destroyed, houses stripped to their foundations, and families left without means to provide for themselves.
The devastation on Simeulue, one of the poorest islands in Indonesia, was made worse by another massive earthquake on 28th March 2005. The force of both earthquakes raised the entire island by a shocking two metres, exposing coral reefs, permanently altering the water table and salinating many of the island’s rice fields. Most of the island’s bridges and jetties were destroyed, cutting off access to many remote villages. Houses that hadn’t been destroyed by the tsunami were flattened by the second quake, and more than 50,000 of the island’s population of 80,000 people were left homeless and destitute.
CARE’s response
Using a holistic approach, CARE is working with tsunami survivors to rebuild communities in Simeulue – including health care systems, jobs, safe water sources, roads and bridges, livelihoods, and a sense of community and security. The Simeulue Island programme’s goal is to recover and improve the quality of life for tsunami-affected families and disadvantaged groups, by ensuring targeted tsunami-affected communities have access to basic water and sanitation facilities, income sources and have the capacity to manage future natural disasters as well as to improve child health and nutrition and maternal reproductive health. In all our programming, CARE focuses on community empowerment and ensures full participation of the most vulnerable groups, such as poor women, widows and the elderly.
The main objectives of the Simeulue Island programme are:
• development of sustainable human settlements;
• development of sustainable livelihoods;
• reduction and management of disaster risks;
• reduction in incidence of acute malnutrition among children under five;
• reduction in incidence of communicable diseases among vulnerable people;
• improved access to antenatal care for pregnant women;
• enhanced support for the Simeulue District Health Office through the Ministry of Health and international donors.
Sustainable Human Settlements
Land certification is an important basis for sustainable livelihoods and living. Without clear land titles for people, they cannot be secure in their living area and therefore their future. CARE is supporting the finalisation of land certification in targeted villages where permanent houses have been constructed. CARE is facilitating the implementation of land certification by the National Land Certification Agency (BPN - Badan Pertanahan Nasional) through the World Bank RALAS system established in Aceh for land certification.
CARE is assisting villages to create and implement village development plans and to involve sub-district and district government departments in the realisation of these plans. CARE is also providing specific technical and material assistance to assist villages in implementing water and sanitation activities outlined in community development plans. CARE is assisting villages to build water and sanitation facilities such as septic systems, piped water, wells and latrines. CARE is using innovative and local technology to improve water and sanitation services, such as gravity-operated water systems, and septic systems that use gravel, sand and plants to filter and break down wastewater into the soil, protecting shallow water resources – which is particularly important in coastal areas with a high water table and shallow wells that are easily contaminated. In Simeulue, many villagers who once had to walk long distances to water sources have piped water at communal water points in their communities for the first time.
Sustainable Livelihoods
Tsunami didn't just destroy buildings; it destroyed jobs and incomes as well, leaving many survivors unable to provide for themselves and their families. Many of the communities in Simeulue were subsistence farmers and fishermen, making just enough to provide for their families. CARE will not only help people recover their livelihoods, but also help them choose new livelihoods systems that are more resilient to external shocks. The goal is to provide beneficiaries with sustainable options for income-generation and a life free from poverty.
CARE works with communities to identify locally appropriate economic opportunities such as cocoa and coconut oil production, provides training for financial management and planning, and helps communities develop sustainable approaches, such as using locally made organic compost as fertilizer instead of expensive chemical fertilizers. CARE works with communities to form farming and fishing collectives that increase their local production, encourages sharing of skills and knowledge, and enables the new groups to sell in larger quantities to a larger market, thus increasing profits.
Disaster Risk Reduction
CARE is working together with communities to ensure their new homes and villages are better prepared to weather any future disasters. Community planning ensures people know where the best escape routes are for all community members in case of another disaster, and that houses and infrastructure are rebuilt in the safest locations; early warning systems give people more time to reach safety in an emergency. To ensure community development is environmentally sound and socially sustainable, CARE is leading the way in conducting environmental and social impact assessments in our project areas.
Nutrition
Posyandu, village-level health posts that provide services to women and children once a month, are the first point of contact for Simeulue communities. CARE’s health team works to improve and support posyandu by providing training to midwives and volunteer health cadres, focusing on helping to establish and strengthen community-based child health promotions and health services for children under five years of age. CARE also works closely with local governments to ensure that posyandu services are run on a regular basis, and to encourage mothers and caregivers to attend the puskesmas regularly with their children.
Through the Posyandu, CARE is helping to establish home gardens, and will advocate for the provision of Vitamin A and deworming medicines to children under five years of age. These activities are designed to help enhance the nutritional status of vulnerable children, and ultimately in the reduction in incidence of acute malnutrition among children under five years of age.
Reduction of communicable diseases
Many women and children suffer from a range of preventable, treatable illnesses such as anemia, and diarrhea. CARE’s health team works to prevent the spread of these illnesses. CARE is strengthening health education and hygiene promotion as a means to increase community awareness on communicable diseases, encouraging community-based approaches on safe water and sanitation, as well as improving these through the assistance of the water and sanitation division. In addition, CARE is conducting community strategies to reduce communities’ exposure to malaria and dengue vectors. These activities are aimed at preventing communicable diseases, and ultimately, in reducing the incidence of communicable diseases among vulnerable people. CARE also supports government initiatives such as de-worming for children, and screens children for illnesses through the posyandu.
Reproductive health
CARE’s health team works through Centres of Mother’s Education to provide antenatal care and reproductive health education to women about topics such as high-risk pregnancies, safe delivery practices, and the importance of proper nutrition for pregnant and lactating women. CARE is also facilitating discussions and planning on the development of effective community-based obstetrics emergency plans. This is designed to help establish a community-based sustainable model for safe motherhood. In all of CARE’s programming, CARE works to support the Simeulue District Health Offices, puskesmas and posyandu, building skills and capacity so local health workers can continue to ensure the health of their communities long after CARE’s programme is complete.
As part of CARE’s global mission to end poverty, the Simeulue Island programme is working with vulnerable groups to ensure they have the skills to plan for and ensure the safe development of their communities. In all our activities, CARE coordinates with local partners and community members to build their capacity to adopt practices which enable sustainable and equitable management of resources, as well as increase social and gender equity and good governance. Together, we are rebuilding communities in Aceh.
Sector : Settlements, Livelihoods, Health, Disaster Risk Reduction and Access Market
Location : Simeulue District, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam
Donor : CARE Australia [private donations]
Project Period : January 2005 – March 2009
Page last updated October 22, 2008
