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Rebuilding Homes and Livelihoods in Post-Disaster Communities
On December 26, 2004, an earthquake and tsunami devastated Southeast Asia, claiming the lives of more than 250,000 people and destroying livelihoods and basic infrastructure for thousands of communities. CHF International responded immediately by focusing on restoring the livelihoods of tsunami-affected people, particularly in the fishing and handicrafts sector. CHF programs in Aceh are focused on four key areas:
1. Housing Reconstruction:
Through the support of USAID, CHF International is currently implementing the High Impact Revitalization of the Economy of Aceh (HIRE-Aceh) program to rebuild 1,000 permanent homes. In the first two years, nearly 600 have been completed, including final handover to communities and families. In line with CHF’s participatory approach of relief to development, HIRE-Aceh incorporates a community-driven process, employs local labor in construction-related activities, and includes essential disaster mitigation strategies, environmental improvements, and construction of community infrastructure, such as schools and clinics. HIRE-Aceh also includes efforts to expand educational opportunities and address the psycho-social well-being of the victims. In recognition of CHF’s success in implementing housing reconstruction, AIG and Oxfam Great Britain have provided additional funding for CHF’s efforts.2. Market Reconstruction:
One of CHF’s main economic revitalization efforts has been the reconstruction and rehabilitation of approximately 15 damaged or destroyed public markets along the western coast of Aceh, through the support of the American Red Cross. The Healthy Markets Program combines construction activities with health training and promotion for vendors who will work in economic coordination with local health offiicials and organizations, such as the Indonesian Red Cross, to find ways to use the public markets as forums for disseminating vital health information and services.3. Health Promotion:
In addition to the activities of the Healthy Markets Program, CHF has implemented a variety of health promotion activities with funding from Director Relief International. These activities include the distribution of a variety of medical and hygiene supplies to communities, health posts, and hospitals, provision of community training on hygiene, first aid, nutrition, and vector control, and construction of sanitation facilities to complement housing construction.4. Livelihoods:
Soon after the disaster, CHF implemented several quick impact projects to assist thousands of villagers to restore activity in their communities. Local associations and organizations helped CHF identify hundreds of recipients for small grants and loans to micro- and small-businesses to help them quickly resume earning much needed income. With funding from our private-sector partners, CHF International helped more than 700 rural workers restart their retail and home-based businesses within six months of the disaster. In addition, through funding from Dow Chemical Company Foundation, CHF will be able to assist target communities in seeting up revolving grant and loans funds to help micro-entrepreneurs re-start income generating activities.
Earthquake Recovery in Yogyakarta
In May 27, 2006, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck near the city of Yogyakarta, destroying houses, markets, clinics, roads, bridges, and other essential infrastructure, and leaving an estimated 5,900 dead and 500,000 homeless. Within hours of the quake, CHF mobilized to provide affected communities with emergency relief supplies, including food, blankets, and first aid. Many of these communities are remote and underserved in the best of times, and lost 75% to 100% of their housing and community infrastructure in the earthquake. In addition to immediate emergency relief, CHF has been implementing the following long-term recovery programs:1. Water and Sanitation Improvement Program With assistance from UNICEF, CHF is working to increase healthy behaviors and practices through the provision of improved water and sanitation systems and related health education for approximately 27,000 earthquake-affected individuals through the construction of community water systems and targeted health and hygiene training to communities and schools, with particular focus on water and sanitation.
2. Transitional Shelter Program With funding from USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), CHF provided 5,120 transitional bamboo shelters to earthquake affected families before the onslaught of the monsoon season. All shelters were built using locally grown and purchased materials or materials, such as bricks and doors, which were salvaged from the quake. 3. Yogya Recovery Assistance Program With assistance from AIG, CHF is providing microgrants for the restoration of small-scale businesses and skills training to earthquake victims for the to improve their ability to generate income. In addition, through a partnership with HSBC, the program is supporting permanent housing reconstruction. 4. Durable Shelters Program As a follow-up to the Transitional Shelter Program, the Java Reconstruction Fund provided CHF with a grant to provide an additional 8,000 shelters.
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