Horrors of the Tsunami Return for the People of Indonesia

24 December, 2006

MH Emergency Teams in Indonesia continue providing survivors of the flash floods with essential food, water and medical care.

Major flash floods that struck Indonesia's Aceh and North Sumatra provinces on the 22nd of December 2006, have killed at least 114, and displaced over 250,000 people.

The floods submerged thousands of homes, damaged infrastructure and destroyed livelihoods, reigniting memories of the devastating tsunami that struck almost two years prior to the day.

The worst hit regions were the district of Tamiyang, in the Nanggroe Aceh Darusaalam (NAD), and the district of Langkat in Northern Sumatra.

Experienced Muslim Hands Indonesia Disaster Response teams lead by Khairul Rahmi, arrived in the affected area on 23rd of December 2006 and began aid distribution immediately in Besitang and Pangkalan Brandan, the most severely affected area in North Sumatera.

As always in these situations there is a dire need for anti-diarrhoeal tablets and safe drinking water, to contain the growing threat of waterborne diseases.

Muslim Hands has set up a refugee camp between Pangkalan Brandan and Besitang and is providing food, shelter, clean water and much needed medical supplies to the flood survivors.

"The condition of the survivors is already very bad and the worst is yet to come as the rainy season is imminent. Two villages, 15 km from the main road, namely Arasnatal and Sekoci are still unreachable. The floods have cut-off the main roads connecting the provincial capitals of Aceh and North Sumatra."

Khairul Rahmi, MH Team Leader

Muslim Hands has launched an emergency appeal to help the victims of Indonesia flash flood disaster.

Items being supplied to the flood victims include:

• nutritional food and drinks;
• medicine
• tents, mattresses and blankets
• portable generator sets, electric wires, bulbs, and lanterns
• water buckets, kerosene stoves, cooking utensils, soaps, and detergents
• hygiene and Sanitation packages.