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Aceh Tsunami Disaster Relief Efforts
Committee of the Rotary Club of Kuching Central
 

On 26 December 2004, a major earthquake occurred near the Northern part of Sumatera which caused heavy damages to buildings. It also created the occurrence of Tsunami immediately after. Phuket, Sri Lanka, Andaman Islands, Maldives and the western coasts of Northern Sumatera including the town of Banda Aceh, were badly damaged.

The death toll in Northern Sumatera represented the highest casualties of all the places that were affected by this catastrophe.
 


 

The Rotary Club of Kuching Central immediately responded and set up a 15-member Tsunami Disaster Relief Efforts committee chaired by PP Andre Suharto with President Aw Tai Hui as the advisor.

The Aceh Tsunami Disaster Relief Efforts Committee:
Item

Name

Portfolio
1  Aw Tai Hui  Advisor
2  Andre Suharto  Chairman & PR
3  Sylvester Fong  Secretary & Auditor
4  Ng Yaw Hua  Finance
5  Steve Ng  Fund Raising (FR)
6  Kho Ping  Subcommittee
7  Frankie Ong  Subcommittee
8  Ng Yaw Hua  Subcommittee
9  Augustine Wong  Logistics (L)
10  James Ho  Subcommittee
11  David Siaw  Subcommittee
12  Chieng Lee Ching  Procurement (P)
13  Sylvester Fong  Subcommittee
14  Steve Ng  Subcommittee
15  Ng Yaw Hua  Subcommittee

The committee members responded with very quick turnaround time beyond imagination because all they wished to do was to ensure that relief will reach the needy within the shortest possible time. 

Immediate contacts were made with two Rotary clubs in Medan namely the Rotary Clubs of Langkat and Deli Medan after consulting Rotary District 3400 (Indonesia) Governor Ritje Rihatinah and Past District 3400 Governor John Karamoy.

The Rotary Club of Langkat, through PP Ibgrahim Champion, was quick to reply and after several exchanges of emails, both parties identified and agreed that the need for medical items was the top priority. Meanwhile, the committee anticipated that the issue on logistics had to be addressed. With the help of Rotarian Steve Ng, the committee was given support by Malaysian Airlines Systems (MAS) for free air cargo to airfreights donated medical items from Kuching to Medan, North Sumatera.
 


 

On 3rd & 5th January 2005, a total of 2,782KGs of medical aids were acquired by the committee with the help of Normah Medical Specialist Center and Timberland who helped to supply us with some of the item. They also put us in touch with suppliers of various medical items who sold these items to us at prices lower than what they sell to the hospitals. When they heard of the efforts put up by the Rotary Club of Kuching Central, some of the pharmacies and suppliers of medical drugs, decided to come forward to donate some medical items. 

All ground handling of logistics in Kuching was provided by Sinar Mekar Sdn Bhd, a global logistic provider, whose CEO is our Incoming President Augustine Wong. 

The medical aids were airflown to Medan for distributions by Rotary Club of Langkat (jointly with Aceh Sepakat NGO) to the affected areas in Northern Sumatera. 
 

Members of R.C. of Kuching Central & their families helped to load the many boxes of medical aids into the lorry.
 
3 tons of Urgent Medical Supplies on the way to Aceh.

 
At the same time, fund raising exercise was also initiated. With the help of the local media and much publicity, many individuals and corporate bodies came forward to donate money and medical items. Within 14 days, the committee raised nearly RM170,000.00.

It was slightly after 100 days since the incident happened when the committee is of the opinion that a timely visit to the Aceh province was appropriate. PP Andre Suharto and Rtn. Ng Yaw Hua left Kuching for Banda Aceh via an overnight stay in Medan from 13 to 15 April 2005. PP Andre Suharto is also a member of the Rotary District 3310 Tsunami Disaster Relief Committee whose chairman is PDG Gerald Minjoot.

 
 
Objective of the trip:
* TO IDENTIFY SUITABLE PROJECTS TO BE PARTICIPATED BY R.C. KUCHING CENTRAL (& POSSIBLY R.I. DISTRICT 3310) TOGETHER WITH RESPECTABLE, RESPONSIBLE & TRUSTWORTHY NGOs (NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS) & INDIVIDUALS FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE TSUNAMI IN ACEH & NIAS.

* TO OBTAIN FEEDBACK FROM R.C. OF LANGKAT AND ACEH SEPAKAT ON HOW THE 2,872KG OF DONATED MEDICAL AIDS FROM R.C. KUCHING CENTRAL WERE UTILIZED AND DISTRIBUTED. 



How the medical aids were distributed:
 

  • Consignments if medical aids were sent by air, compliments of MAS (Malaysian Airlines Systems) from Kuching to MEdan on 3rd and 7th January 2005 at 1,640KG & 1,142KG respectively.

  • They were received on 4th & 8th January 2005 by Rotary Club of Langkat.

  • Rotary Club of Langkat joined forces with another NGO, Aceh Sepakat, to help distribute the medical aids from 4th to 19th January 2005.

  • In view of Zainul Ariffin General Hospital in Banda Aceh being damaged by the Tsunami, many of the victims were transferred out of the affected areas to the District hospitals located between Banda Aceh, Medan and in smaller towns like Sigli, Lhokseumawe, Bireun.

  • The medical aids were distributed to the following villages as indicated in the map below under the supervision of Dr. Hasdiana Hasan, Chairman, distribution & logistics from Aceh Sepakat. 

With Secretary General Aceh Sepakat, Bapak Hj Muchtar Jacob.
PP Andre Suharto receiving a certificate of appreciation from R.C. of Langkat, Medan, Sumatera.
The century old Grand Mosque Baiturrahman in Central Banda Aceh was left intact by the earthquake and Tsunami.

 
 
Locations where donated medical items were distributed.


Areas that were visited by PP Andre Suharto & Rtn. Ng Yaw Hua in the Aceh Province as indicated in the map above.
  
Observations & findings:

  1. Half of Banda Aceh town and as well as its coastal suburbs are still in ruined with practically no development at all taking place apart from several long houses that have been built by the central government.

  2. Many are still living in make-shift tents that are provided by the NGOs, UNHCR, Red Cross, MERCY Malaysia, etc.

  3. Clean drinking water supply is still problematic. Most rely on well water for drinking and this water may even been tested to gauge the quality level for drinking.

  4. Sanitation is also lacking in view of the fact that many houses were demolished and damaged by earthquake and the Tsunami.

  5. The Acehnese is trying to find ways to help them be able to earn their living again. For the fishermen, they hope to be able to get a fishing boat because many of the boats were either damaged beyond repair or banished during the catastrophe.

  6. The Banda Aceh Water Board authority used to have 25,000 consumers and now only have around 8,000. This is an indication on how many houses have been destroyed by the Tsunami and earthquake. 


A RM2,500 house built by Rotary Club of Semarang & Red Cross Semarang, Indonesia. They plan to build 70 of such houses.
 

Areas visited by PP Andre Suharto & Rtn. Ng Yaw Hua in Banda Aceh town as indicated in the map above.


1. List of needs:
  1. 3 units of fogging equipment & chemicals for Zainal Ariffin General Hospital in Banda Aceh (for prevention of Aides mosquitoes breeding).
  2. Castor wheels (for fitting on hospital beds).
  3. Dump trucks for clearing of household wastes.
  4. Ambulance.
  5. Forklift.
  6. Excavator.
  7. Lockable wooden boxes to keep merchandise items (for small traders to keep their goods for sale).
  8. Vacancies for household maids in Malaysia.
  9. Scholarships for university students requires Rp20 million (about RM8,000) to complete their studies.
  10. Computers, scanners, copier, modems, printers.
  11. Makeshift tents at Singkil.
  12. Prosthetic limbs.
  13. Purchase of boats for fisherman (perhaps through the use of microcredit scheme).
In the course of the strong water current resulting from the Tsunami, many people who survived, swallowed mud and contaminated water. Because of lack of 'suction' equipment, doctors were not able to 'suck' these materials from the body resulting in infections. After prolonged condition, many died. Hence the following equipment are needed:
  1. Bronchoscopy (suction equipment)
  2. Laparoscopy (suction equipment)
2. Other known activities by Rotary clubs:
  • R.C. of Semarang (D3400) jointly with Red Cross Semarang, Indonesia building 70 units of wooden houses at Leupung each costing around Rp6million (around RM2,500.00).
  • D3300 visited Medan during Aidil Adha to contribute 10 cows for slaughtering to donate to the Muslims community at the refugee center in Medan.
  • Received 30 units of water treatment equipment from District 3300.
  • R.C. of Taipei with a club in D3300 donated an ambulance.
The other Rotary clubs, individuals, corporations and anonymous donors who played a role and made contributions in this relief efforts. Please visit http://tsunami.govritje.com for further details. 
 


A RM6,000 house built by 'Friends of Sarawak' who comprises of many associations of professional bodies. A total of 48 houses have been built and donated.

As at publication of this document, the Rotary District 3310 (comprising of Rotary Clubs in East Malaysia, Brunei, Labuan, Melaka, Johor and Singapore) has contributed RM65,000 to build 12 fishing boats (complete with outboard engine), 3 units of fogging machines. The District is also considering to build an orphanage at Siborongborong (located around 1 hour by road from Sibolga, the ferry point to Nias island) together with Rotary Club of Queenstown,

ABOUT ACEH SEPAKAT (NGO)
Aceh Sepakat is a non-profit, non-political & non-governmental social organization that was founded in 1968 by Acehnese living in Medan, Indonesia. Its members are anyone born in Aceh or married to Acehnese. It has about 500,000 members.

Currently it has 25 branches with its headquarters located in Medan.

Aceh Sepakat currently owns/ involve in the followings:
  • Malahayati public hospital in central Medan.
  • Nursing College associated with Malahayati hospital.
  • Public School for primary & secondary education.
  • Orphanage house
  • Cemetery
  • Mosque
  • Scholarships for the under privilege.
During the Tsunami disaster, the Rotary Club of Langkat teamed up with Aceh Sepakat to provide relief works to rural areas in the Aceh province.

Acknowledgement of thanks:
The committee as well as board of directors and members of the Rotary Club of Kuching Central would like to record our heartfelt thanks to individuals and organizations who have supported this project directly and indirectly without which it would have been difficult to provide assistance to the people in Aceh. May the Almighty in the Highest bless you and your families.
 
 

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