The Asia Pacific Emergency Appeal

First Phase Mentawai Response complete!

16 November 2010

The First Phase of the Emergency Response for the Mentawai Islands which has concentrated on assessing the immediate needs of the affected communities and distributing food and non-food assistance has been completed. We now move into two new phases of Recovery programs which will last until the end of October 2011.

The 7.7M earthquake, which triggered a tsunami that has been recorded as being up to six metres (20 feet) high in some villages, struck at 9.41pm on Monday night 25 October.

The latest report from the Indonesian Government says that 447 people have been killed, 57 are missing, and 173 are seriously injured. More than 15,000 people have been displaced from their homes and are living in temporary shelters, many on the hills above their villages as they fear another tsunami.

Villagers gratefully receive emergency supplies. Photo: The Barrenjoey

Mentawai Villages Situation Report

8 November 2010

SurfAid is managing to get emergency aid supplies into the villages most-affected by the tsunami despite the worst weather and sea conditions in the Mentawai Islands in years.

The surf charter boats, which are carrying supplies and assessment teams, have been battling 30 knot winds and wild, 3 - 4 metre (10 - 12 foot seas).

An aid boat was helping a local in his motorised sampan when they lost him in the bad weather. Luckily SurfAid staff on board the Indies Trader IV saw him in the ocean and brought him on board. 

SurfAid's Stacey Howe said the Indies Trader fought its way through fierce wind and rain to reach the hamlets of Limu and Limosau, on South Pagai island. But this village of 33 households stood against the storm, formed a line and emptied the tin boat. Even children participated with smiles remaining on their faces as they saw all the goodies that they were receiving. "As we approached Limu, the waves were crashing us into boulders that appeared above the water. The community greeted us with smiles and looks of relief, and children gathered along the shore with their bright, smiling faces. We introduced ourselves to the village and, after telling them that we had aid supplies, the men in the community gathered on the beach," Howe said.

Fresh water in tsunami-affected Gobik village thanks to SurfAid

3 November 2010

SurfAid's Emergency Response Director, Dr Alan Rogerson, penned the following story at the end of another very long day:

Like all SurfAid staff, Lamhot Purba has a day job. He has lived in the Mentawai for the past year, providing the technical expertise to enable SurfAid to implement clean water facilities in several communities throughout the islands. Last week Lamhot accepted responsibility for a new job, and he has been Team Leader for the assessment and distribution that SurfAid has implemented in the affected communities of Southern Sipora.

The Gobik water tank - built by SurfAid and the local community this year - that survived the tsunami. Photo: SurfAid

Lamhot knows one of these villages particularly well. He spent several weeks living in Gobik in July, managing the installation of a gravity-fed clean water system that took fresh water from a stream outside the village and piped it to a tank in the village centre. Ironically this concrete structure, designed to keep water in, was one of the few man-made objects that managed to keep the water out when the tsunami wave arrived on Monday night 25 October.

Today Lamhot was back in that same village, talking to people who became his friends, assessing the damage to their lives and trying to assist them by distributing food and shelter, thanks to the generosity of the New Zealand Aid Programme, AusAID and our supporters. This effort was also possible due to the assistance of the charter boat the Indies Trader III, and Bob Hurley and his friends who had  swapped their surf trip to assist SurfAid's relief effort. 

There were 23 houses in Gobik last week, now there are four houses (and a functional water tank). Seven of the community were killed by the tsunami, one person is still missing and is unlikely to be found alive now. The death and destruction in Gobik is mirrored in the other little communities huddled together in the same corner at the bottom of Sipora Island.

In the past two days, Lamhot has been joined by our field staff Dian, Albertina and Wati (who was in Bosua when the wave came), and by the captain, crew and guests of the Indies Trader III. They have visited Bosua, Beriulou and Masokut, in addition to Gobik.

In total these communities have lost 70% of their original 385 houses. Twenty people died, one is missing, a dozen were seriously injured. Tsunamis like this kill a disproportionately large number of women, children and the elderly, because they have less capacity to hang on as the wave recedes.

Lamhot and his colleagues spent two days in these communities, and provided enough support to keep them alive and make them a little bit more comfortable.

"The communities of Beriulou and Masokut had received very little assistance before we arrived," Lamhot said. "They really appreciated the shelter and food we were able to provide, and the basic kitchen equipment to help them start to cook for themselves. They really thank SurfAid, and the Indies Trader III guests."

SurfAid appointed lead agency by Indonesian government

29 October 2010

The Indonesian Government has requested that SchoolAid's partners in Ithe Asia Pacific Appeal, SurfAid take a lead in coordinating the Non Government Organisations' response to the Mentawai tsunami.

SurfAid CEO Andrew Judge initially met with the Indonesian Vice President, Bapak Boediono, and Indonesian cabinet members, in Padang on Tuesday.

At that meeting, the Vice President asked SurfAid to provide an assessment to the Indonesian Government of the situation on the ground in the Mentawai Islands.

"To take the lead coordinating role in this disaster is a great honour and a huge level of responsibility," Judge said today. "SurfAid is a locally based NGO with commitment to, and extensive knowledge of, the Mentawai. We have worked here for 10 years and this is our fifth major emergency response.

"SurfAid is rapidly expanding its operations to provide the essential assessment information so that the necessary responses can be targeted to the areas in greatest need.  We have also delivered shelter, building, hygiene and kitchen materials to thousands of people and those deliveries are continuing."

Information and image courtesy of SurfAid

Tsunami strikes recovering Mentawai region

27 October 2010

Late on 25 October 2010, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck just south of the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia, sending a 2-3 metre (6-10 foot) tsunami into the southern island of Pagai Selatan.

SurfAid's Mentawai Program Manager Tom Plummer, who is in Padang, believes the southern Mentawai may be trashed. He filed this report which is directly from the crew of the surf charter boat, D'Bora.

"Just in from D'Bora. 0100 Tuesday 26 October. There was a tsunami wave washed through Maccas; debris everywhere. Midas (one of the surf charter boats) in flames on the beach. We have all guests and crew onboard safe."

Not long later, Tom filed this report:

"There was a 7.5 earthquake here around 21.42 on Monday 25 October. It created a three-metre high tsunami which washed through Macaronis Bay where Midas and Freedom were parked. Midas was hit by Freedom and caught on fire. All guests jumped overboard. D'Bora picked up Midas guests who are all safe apart from suffering some smoke inhalation and minor scratches. Midas guests and crew were washed into the jungle and took more than an hour to find their way back to the beach, where they were picked up by D'Bora's tender. The surf guide on D'Bora, Joey Melroy, said that there was a lot of debris floating in the water including bar stools and other pieces of furniture from Macaronis Resort. No news of the state of our village at Silabu as it is night time."

Information and image courtesy of SurfAid

News report featuring SchoolAid and SurfAid!

29 April 2010

The SBS TV story on our Psychosocial Support Program (Tampek Mangadu) - which we have been running in Padang in partnership with SurfAid since the September earthquake - is being broadcast worldwide on CNN International this month.  The story aired nationally in Australia on Sunday 4 April.  

Reporter Auskar Surbakti covered the earthquake in September and recently returned to Padang to do an update on what was happening there six months later.

Click here to watch the CNN story on SchoolAid and SurfAid's Psychosocial Support Program in Padang in case you missed it ...

Latest Update on "Tampek Mangadu" Project

12 February 2010

SchoolAid and SurfAid International are proud to update you all on the exciting events and progress made in the "Tampek Mangadu" Project.  This translates to mean "A shoulder to lean on".  An education group from Cendana Andalas School in Padang (pictured right courtesy of Stacey Howe/ SurfAid International) thanks all those schools who have participated in this Project.

Through the involvement of over 185 schools across Australia, and the partnership with SurfAid International, hundreds of children and their families are benefitting from the psychosocial counselling and grief support.  It is an ongoing process, however through artwork, cultural expression and community support a huge impact has been made in the lives of so many.

See below photograph of a psychosocial education session in Parak Buruak.

(photo courtesy of Stacey Howe/ SurfAid International)

The below picture shows children in Parak Buruak engaging in a traditional game where a kerupok (large cracker) is tied to a string. The child has to hold their hands behind their backs while they eat the cracker. Whoever eats the cracker the fastest, wins.

On the day of the Sunday event, 5-8 years olds competed in this game. Many
of the children had their front teeth missing so it was absolutely hilarious when they were trying to bite the cracker.  Families gathered to support and encourage their children. This event definitely brought a smile to everyone's face.

(photo courtesy of Stacey Howe/ SurfAid International)

Below is a photograph of two teenagers in Parak Buruak demonstrating "pencak silat" which is a traditional fighting dance.  There is a group of children in the community who practice traditional dancing on a weekly basis.  This is a great psychosocial activity that strengthens children's ability to cope with change and to trust in themselves and others.

(photo courtesy of Stacey Howe/ SurfAid International)

Act now! Dozens of schools around Australia are already participating in our Asia Pacific Emergency Appeal and we are proud to announce our partnership with SurfAid International's 'Tampek Mangadu' project in Sumatra, which means, 'a shoulder to lean on'.

1 December 2009

While we are enjoying our school holidays, the children of Samoa and Sumatra have been struggling with the enormity of their losses following the tsunami and earthquake disasters.  Kids in these areas have lost everything, many have lost parents, relatives and friends - it is unimaginable to us.  SchoolAid founder, Sean Gordon flew into Samoa just days after the tsunami struck.  He found it difficult to convey in words how horrific the scenes were, with so many lives lost, homes destroyed and schools devastated.    

(Image courtesy of SurfAid International) 

Shindy, pictured above, is a 12 year old girl who was rescued from under the rubble of her home in Pedang.

Click here for her story. 

Turn your compassion and concern into action by clicking here. 

Send out your Message of Hope to the kids impacted by these disasters- your thoughts and wishes mean so much to these kids in this time of suffering!

We are also pleased to report to you that the relief and recovery work being undertaken in Samoa is progressing well with most kids and families slowly but steadily re-building their lives following the tsunami. 

Learn interesting facts about these naturally occurring disasters and incorporate this information into your lessons in the classroom! Find out more about emergencies like tsunamis and earthquakes at the Australian Government's website for schools' learning by clicking here .

ALERT - TEACHERS…

SurfAid International also have fantastic classroom activities and lesson plans you can access to give kids a fun and interesting learning experience around their philanthropic activity - connecting them to their giving in a deep and lasting way! 

Visit the SurfAid website. 

SurfAid International partnership

Dozens of schools around Australia are participating in our Asia Pacific Emergency Appeal and we are proud to announce our partnership with SurfAid International's 'Tampek Mangadu' project in Sumatra, which means 'a shoulder to lean on'.

The SurfAid Tampek Mangadu project is all about supporting kids in their grief and loss and on-going trauma response following the earthquake that recently claimed the lives of over 1000 people and destroyed the city of Pedang in Sumatra, Indonesia.

We still need your support - the work to be undertaken in Sumatra is not small but together and with SurfAid we can make a huge difference - get involved, click here!

Get involved and win a Billabong pack

Australian surf company, Billabong, is right behind our partnership with SurfAid and your school could receive a Billabong Pack by registering in the Asia Pacific Emergency Appeal AND if your school makes the largest contribution to our Appeal we will say a huge thank you by sending champion surfers to your school or offering you a day surfing with them!

Get involved, click here.

We are also pleased to report to you that the relief and recovery work being undertaken in Samoa is progressing well with most kids and families slowly but steadily re-building their lives following the tsunami with the support of committed aid agencies and community organizations and the Samoan Government.

Click here to send a Message of Hope to the affected communities.

Meeting with Samoan Prime Minister

SchoolAid Founder, Sean Gordon met with the Samoan Prime Minister, who personally thanked the Australian schools and kids already on board with this Appeal through fundraising and sending Messages of Hope.

Watch this video here.