After helping over 20,000 people to recover from the December floods in the worst affected district of Aceh Tamiang, the last displaced families are now moving back to their homes and Oxfam is completing its relief work this week in the area.
Kuala Simpang, Aceh, Indonesia — After helping over 20,000 people to recover from the December floods in the worst affected district of Aceh Tamiang, the last displaced families are now moving back to their homes and Oxfam is completing its relief work this week in the area.
"After the floods, people's vital rights to water and access to sanitation facilities were disrupted. We immediately worked in coordination with the local Government and aid agencies to restore essential public health services", said Raphael Mutiku, Oxfam Project Manager in Lhokseumawe.
In partnership with the municipal water company PDAM and its local partner Aceh People's Forum (APF), Oxfam's relief operation was extended for three months in seven villages. It has helped deliver over 400,000 litres of safe drinking water while the floodwaters prohibited people from accessing water sources and has provided essential public health services to displaced families in five camps to reduce the threat of disease and sickness.
About 19,000 cleaning tools and hygiene kits have been distributed to people to help them initiate some clean-up campaigns in their villages. Fifteen wells have also been rehabilitated in the local schools and local health centres Puskesmas in the sub-district of Rantau. An additional 170 family wells have been cleaned and upgraded in the communities of Rantau, Kuala Simpang and Karang Baru. Over 50 emergency sanitation facilities have also been set up and Oxfam public health team has been promoting good hygiene practices in camps and the neighbouring villages.
"A hundred days later the work has paid off. The public health situation is back to normal. Clean-up campaigns are ending and the last groups of people are now moving back to their homes and villages," said Raphael.
Another 7000 people have received assistance in the districts of Aceh Utara and Aceh Timur. The floods, which occurred after the torrential rains last December, killed around 100 people and affected some 400,000 residents.