Rebuilding Hope and Lives
Thanks to the prayers and generosity of thousands of supporters, Catholic Relief Services has made much progress in the first three years of our tsunami response. We are rebuilding the framework for daily life and we are working with survivors as they rebuild their futures.
Indonesia
Indonesia is the country worst hit by the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami, with over 160,000 people dead or missing, and an estimated 500,000 left homeless. Catholic Relief Services has committed staff and over $124 million through fiscal year 2009 to reconstruct homes, schools, businesses, hospitals and markets. Most importantly, we are dedicated to helping thousands of families resume their lives with dignity.
Our efforts are concentrated in Meulaboh and Banda Aceh, the two largest cities in Aceh devastated by the tsunami. Satellite offices serve other affected regions.
This latest tragedy in Indonesia is compounded by three decades of conflict between the government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh movement. Fighting has been marked by ongoing accusations of human rights abuses. Despite the many obstacles, the survivors of Indonesia — with the help of Catholic Relief Services and other international humanitarian organizations — are returning to their homes and more normal lives.
In the Long Term
Our focus in Aceh is not just physical rehabilitation. Our goal is to improve the full abilities of people and communities to become more self-sufficient through:
- A holistic approach to rebuilding villages that seeks to build homes, proper water facilities, appropriate sanitation systems, and access to roads, health clinics and other community needs.
- Improved household health practices and increased use of health facilities that provide both preventive health practices and treatment.
- Strengthened capacity of local nongovernmental organizations and other church partners to prepare and respond to natural disasters that might occur in the future.
- Rehabilitation of jobs and trades that allow families to be self-reliant over the long term.
Sri Lanka
Much of the work of Catholic Relief Services in Sri Lanka takes place on the fringes of violence and war. Prior to the great tsunami, conflict between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam devastated the country. Today, CRS and our partners are working to help the people of Batticaloa, Mannar, Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts to heal from the emotional and physical devastation of the tsunami and years of war.
CRS has committed $30 million through fiscal year 2009 to rebuilding homes, communities, businesses and schools, providing humanitarian relief to thousands of families affected by the conflict, restoring livelihoods, and caring for thousands of orphaned children. We continue to provide education support and trauma/psychological counseling to thousands of adults and children through our partners.
In the Long Term
CRS and our partners continue to work with a careful eye on two primary threats to the long-term success of reconstruction efforts: the existing civil conflict between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and the possibility of other natural disasters. For this reason, CRS is making an extra effort to ensure all reconstruction programs include peacebuilding and disaster preparedness.
The Sri Lanka program's overarching goal is to do more than just rebuild what had existed prior to the tsunami, but to improve the lives of people to ensure that:
- All tsunami- and war-affected families live in a dignified and secure environment.
- Vulnerable families have secure and reliable work.
- Children have safe learning environments and support for their recovery and development.
India
With committed resources of $37 million through fiscal year 2009, Catholic Relief Services' long-term objectives for India are to restore daily living for those affected, help communities prepare for the possibility of future disaster, and provide information and tools communities need to protect their most vulnerable — children, women and people living with HIV. Catholic Relief Services is committed to aiding the people and communities still struggling from the worst natural disaster to hit India in centuries.
In the Long Term
The tsunami response in India is being conducted under the overarching goal of peace, equity and women’s empowerment. Our focus has been on incorporating the principles and practices that enhance the capacity of communities to solve their own problems.
With those goals in mind, CRS and our partners are focusing on these primary objectives for the coming years:
- Restore the homes, livelihoods and mental health of tsunami-affected families.
- Build the capacity of communities to protect their women, children and other vulnerable members from human trafficking, unsafe migration, child labor and HIV.
- Provide educational supplies for children.
- Improve the emergency preparedness of disaster-prone communities.
Calang Bridge, before (above) …
CRS-managed road work along the west coast of Aceh, Indonesia, from Lamno to Calang, was a lifeline for local economic recovery as it employ some 260 people in cash-for-work projects.
… and after (below)
