Indonesia

Health problems include avian flu and dengue fever, spread by mosquitoes, and a lack of access to clean water and sanitation means that diseases spread fast. An economic crisis in 1998 resulted in mass unemployment, with entire families suffering, and in some provinces, political instability and unemployment continues to make life difficult for Indonesians.

Islamic Relief in Indonesia

Working in the country since 2000, Islamic Relief established a permanent field office in March 2003. We implemented relief and development projects: rebuilding the Lhong Raya hospital and Suak Pandan Elementary School, as well as installing bamboo pipe water systems – this natural material is heat-resistant, making it perfect for Indonesia’s tropical climate.

Having a permanent base in Indonesia meant we were able to respond to the 2004 tsunami the very next day. Our immediate response, distributing food, medicine, tents and hygiene supplies, received recognition from the UN and Indonesian Government. After the tsunami, we reconstructed housing as well as other critical public buildings, and we are currently working to resettle people in sustainable housing along with access to healthcare, education, clean water and livelihood support.

Later, in 2006 and 2009, when destructive earthquakes struck Indonesia, we responded within hours, distributing emergency supplies, and once again committing to rebuild key infrastructure and establish public services.