Local actors
While HFI works closely with such international agencies as UNOCHA in assessing and coordinating the emergency response in Padang, local Forum members are setting a leading example in meeting the needs on the ground.
Muhammadiyah's Medical support team has been distributing medical aid in several affected areas across West Sumatera, and have carried out damage assessments on private sector buildings. Muhamadiyah medical teams provided doctors and nurses in several areas, who continued to work long after the earthquake. The organisation also continued support by sending in psycho-social teams and local volunteers to aid survivors. Other projects included distributing essentials such as food, toothpaste, bedding and household utensils.
Dompet Dhuafa deployed 11 emergency response teams to assist the Government in West Sumatera and Jambi. They've since been working to ensure that life continues as normally as possible for victims of the earthquake, co-ordinating the construction of 157 temporary shelters for displaced people, working both with local volunteers and marines. At the end of October, despite the difficulties of sourcing materials, Dompet Dhuafa opened an emergency school, which it hopes will be the first of several.
Yakkum Emergency Unit (YEU) also provided medical services, not only doctors and nurses but also physiotherapy, paramedic care and transport. They are heavily involved in logistical support and have done some rapid assessment in various Padang areas. YEU is working to train local health centres to increase their ability to respond to emergencies. Through its Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) scheme, YEU is giving basic advice and training in all areas of health care to ensure disaster risk reduction in local communities.
YTBI was working in several areas in and around Padang, distributing school kits and psycho-social care for women and children. It has also been instrumental in project assessment, with a view to including new areas of intervention. As part of its assessment at the end of October, YTBI discovered that more than 2,500 households had not received any aid at all, and were in critical need of food, baby care and shelter. YTBI is now coordinating with other organisations to meet these needs.
Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI) has been heavily involved in aid distribution across various critical points in eleven locations in West Sumatera. They have provided family and children's kits, health centres, portable toilets and mobile paediatric medical centres and libraries to name but a few. Heavily involved with helping children, WVI has provided psycho-social support and carried out assessments for schools in the area.
KARINA conducted door-to-door evaluations of aid efficiency and has concentrated its efforts in areas where the least relief was getting through. In particular KARINA has been working in Pasaman Barat and Pariaman, co-ordinating with local and international aid agencies to provide food, hygiene and childcare packs, emergency shelter, and education. For KARINA, sourcing volunteers has been a problem; more than a thousand households in the areas they work in are in need of shelter and supplies, and KARINA is currently working with minimum numbers of volunteers.
