Indonesia

Including disabled people in disaster risk reduction

Indonesia has suffered a series of major natural disasters in recent years, most recently the large earthquake in Padang region in September 2009 and the eruption of Volcano Merapi in October 2010.

A man in a wheelchair smiling during a rehabilitation session, Indonesia

^{© Ph. Merchez/Handicap International}

Handicap International first launched its operations in Indonesia in January 2005, following the tsunami that struck Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province in late 2004. In the aftermath of the disaster, our teams provided an immediate response to the physiotherapy needs of survivors . Our activities in Aceh during the post-emergency phase aimed to ensure that people with disabilities were included in the reconstruction process.

On 27 May 2006, an earthquake devastated Yogyakarta Province and some parts of Central Java Province. Facing this emergency, our teams in the field took immediate steps to assess the needs on the ground, provide aid in the form of equipment (wheelchairs, crutches, plaster bandages, etc) and facilitate access to care for people with disabilities and injuries. Handicap International also provided assistance to hospitals and care centers, based on its experience acquired during previous natural disasters.

Handicap International used it's experience of responding to previous natural disasters in 2009, when an earthquake hit the Padang region of Indonesia. Handicap International is the only organisation working on the long-term follow-up of the injured people who have already received care or undergone surgery. Out team of physiotherapists supports people during the rehabilitation process with home visits and follow up care.

Key facts - Indonesia

• Population: 232.5 million
• Household Consumption: $2,138 per year
• Life Expectancy: 72 years
• Human Development: ranked 108th out of 169 countries
_{Source: UNDP HDR 2011}

Stories from the field

Large-scale response following 2009 earthquake

Cédric Bérard is the head of Handicap International's emergency response in Indonesia, launched following the earthquake that hit the Padang region in September 2009.

Six months after the earthquake in Padang, emergency aid continues

On Wednesday 30th September 2009, a violent earthquake hit the western coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, resulting in several thousands of deaths.

Our projects

	Supplying aid to vulnerable people after the eruption of Volcano Merapi Handicap International launched an emergency response on the island of Java after Voclano Merapi erupted in October 2010. Our teams are concentrating on ensuring aid reaches the most vulnerable people, especially those in rural and inaccessible areas.
	Intervention after the earthquake in Padang Handicap International launched an emergency mission after the earthquake that struck Padang in September 2009. Our team very quickly directed its activities towards the most vulnerable victims of the earthquake, along with the construction of emergency shelters and raising the awareness of other humanitarian organisations regarding the needs of people with disabilities.
	Disability rights Promoting the rights of people with disabilities in collaboration with disabled people's organisations and other NGOs to raise awareness of disability as a human rights issue and of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) at provincial and national levels.
	Inclusive development Aims to improve the social inclusion of people with disabilities in their communities and to enable them to benefit from the post-tsunami reconstruction, rehabilitation and development effort in Aceh province. A global approach is implemented including carrying out awareness-raising activities, promoting accessibility, developing inclusive economic activities and supporting disabled people’s organisations.
	Wheelchair workshop Managed in partnership with Surakarta orthopaedic hospital on the island of Java, this project aims to set up a workshop producing wheelchairs for the provinces of Yogyakarta and Central Java to improve access to assistive devices adapted to the Indonesian context, and to distribute mobility aids to victims of the earthquake. Our teams are also training workshop technicians to construct mobility aids, and training rehabilitation specialists and medical staff on the prescription and provision of these devices.
	Strengthening rehabilitation services The aim is to provide rehabilitation services for people with disabilities, as specialised structures for rehabilitation services in the Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province are not yet well established. The first goal is to enhance the accessibility of rehabilitation services and improve the quality of services provided in Aceh Besar and Banda Aceh city, Aceh Tengah and Bener Meriah.