Indonesia 10

Sorry - it's been a while since I've updated this blog.

We have been flat out. Not just with our project activities, but also having trouble getting around as the rains bring floods and mud (we were bogged again today at Jono Jindi), and having trouble keeping up with Christmas activities.

The churches in Sulawesi have a Christmas event for everything. Every church group, every Corps, every youth program will have a Christmas event. This means that each day we are expected to go to one, somewhere, especially in areas where we have been working. One night it was the hospital, one night the schools, one night a Corps one...

Typically these events take the form of a church service complete with sermon, a bit like a Corps carols night in Australia. Except that after the service (at about the 2 hour mark) the 'fun' performances start, followed by door prizes, followed by speeches by politicians and committees and the followed by dinner. We attended one Corps youth Christmas that went for 4 1/2 hours last week, in Tanabopunti.

On the project front, things keep happening. Today I was able to visit a village where some of our temporary shelters are already built. Unfortunately, they haven't been built to a great standard and much of the conversation today was around how we fix this. We also delivered materials to another town where they will start building in the near future.

This is the last week that I'll be in Indonesia for the foreseeable future. I certainly would have liked to have moved things along a bit more than we have, but I know that the team that are replacing us are going to be in for a great time of implementation and transformation in the New Year.

Indonesia 9

Particularly in the early days of a disaster response, you can spend so much time planning, assessment, contacting donors, and working on what can eventually be done, that you can miss out on the implementation phase of many projects.

That's not to say that we aren't already responding, it's just that some things take a lot of time to do right.

Today was a bit of a relief from that process as we were able to deliver one of the tangible replacement assets to Woodward Hospital, a brand new ambulance.

This new ambulance is not only a replacement vehicle, but in keeping with our principle to always "build back better", it is better equipped and has higher specifications than the one it replaces.

It was a real pleasure to hand it over to the hospital today.

Indonesia 8

I haven't had a chance to update this for a few days as it has, in part, been flat out. However, in part, I've also simply been out of range of wifi/ phone etc.

During the week there have been a range of random activities. Some days were taken up seeing if toilets that we had commissioned for a camp of displaced people were actually finished. The answer, sadly, was no, and we're not sure where the contractor is at the moment. We restarted them the next day with a plan 'b' contractor.

Another morning was taken up with all of the other agencies that are funded through the Dutch government. We each had to meet to ensure that there is no duplication in services (ironically this in itself is duplication as we already check this off through UN OCHA) and also to learn about some funding requirements that weren't explained to us at the time of receiving the funding. (We think this is a problem with our partners back in the Netherlands.

It also highlights some of the less attractive, but necessary, parts of managing some of these projects. Wednesday morning, for example, was a full meeting looking at budgets for our mobile clinics, truama healing service and hospital repairs.

To contrast this, yesterday our team travelled out of town to the area of Dongi-Dongi, in the central Sualwesi mountains. We stopped at Ampera where we were able to check out the finished repairs to The Salvation Army health clinic and take some photos for the donors. We then proceeded further up the road to the "District 8" Christmas celebration. District 8 (in Australia, The Salvation Army would call them 'areas') is the smallest District in East Palu Division with 9 corps and a couple of outposts. But they are all within 5km of each other. Some are so close that they have made up names like "Nottingham" Corps, "William Booth" Corps and "Bramwell Booth" Outpost - because there are already a number of corps in the same town.

The Christmas celebration was great. Around 600 people from this one area gathering. Following that we stayed (17 people in total) at the Corps Officers house (around 4 in most rooms) before a liesurely drive back today. The hospitality of the Indonesian people is astounding; they graciously host us in their home, feed us and greet us gladly wherever we go.

Our newly repaired medical clinic at Ampera

Indonesia 7 - Mawlid

This week we have been mostly doing the mundane things associated with project management - looking after finances, planning log frames, checking in with stakeholders etc.

The exception was Tuesday, Mawlid, the observation of the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday. It was the 12th of Rabi al-Anwal, in the Islamic calendar, the day that Sunni Muslims (the majority here and in many parts of the world) believe that he came into the world around 1400 years ago. Shi'a Muslims will observe the day on the 17th of Rabi al-Anwal - this Sunday.

Going back 13 years ago I was privileged to observe, and celebrate somewhat, Diwali while I was living and working in India, so I was excited to be in the world's largest Islamic country for Mawlid. Wikipedia, the font of all knowledge these days, says, "in many parts of Indonesia, the celebration of the Mawlid al-nabi seems to surpass in importance, liveliness and splendour the two official Islamic holidays of Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The local Christians explained the day as "Christmas for Muslims".

So on this basis, I thought we were in for a big day.

At first there was nothing different. The call to prayer went out from the local mosque at 4 am, and the faithful went up the street to gather. We usually hear them - or the roosters reacting to them. But then there was nothing else unique. As we drove to have a day out (as a public holiday, everything including our Divisional office was closed for the day), we did see a lot of mosques were full but there wasn't anything outstanding happening.

Then in the evening the party started. Our neighbours had eight loudspeakers going non stop with music, partying and quite the crowd. At one stage I asked my friend for a translation and he said, "They are just announcing to everyone to make sure they pick up their litter and pointing out where the toilets are". It could have been any Australian music festival at this stage, except that the whole family was involved.

I have to admit it wasn't quite what it was built up to be, but I'm glad that our neighbours had a great time - and glad of the down time we got too!

Indonesia 6

For something a bit different, one of my team mates has made a short(ish) video about our work and experience. I don't actually feature in the video - and I'll have to talk to Ian about that - but it's a great piece of work explaining our role and where we've been.

Thanks Ian.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbFaaSASgoI&feature=youtu.be

Indonesia 5

We are currently closing out our "Rapid Response" projects. In The Salvation Army, when a disaster strikes, we usually respond (from an international perspective) with "rapid response" projects that are funded from reserves held at IHQ, allowing immediate action and time to develop longer-term projects in partnership with our donors and supporting territories.

The first project was focussed on the days following the disaster. It had a four week time frame, but within that time the statistics of what was achieved are astounding. Keep in mind that this work was being primarily undertaken by Salvation Army personnel that were themselves grieving and hurting, and utilising infrastructure that was, in some cases, also damaged.

· Cooked meals: 13,547 meals in 5 locations

· Food parcels: 4953 parcels in 24 locations

· Rice (500 kg), 30 boxes eggs and 30 litres oil in 1 location (community kitchen)

· Total of 5250 bags of rice distributed across 30 locations.

· Tarpaulins: 201 in 30 locations

· Water: Small amounts of drinking water in 6 locations

· Other small amounts of food and non-food items

· Trauma healing sessions: took place in 15 locations (1207 people)

· Medical services provided by the hospital: 111 people admitted, 789 clinically treated, 27 surgeries

· Medical service provided by mobile clinics: 12 locations served a total of 950 people.

As we now push on to more substantial and longer term projects, we remain incredibly indebted to The Salvation Army volunteers that mobilised and continue to serve. We see the corps and divisional leadership continuing to respond beyond their own day-to-day responsibilities as the disaster response now projects into weeks and months of work.

Indonesia 4

Over the last few days I've had the privileged, but confronting experience to visit some of the most affected areas from the disasters that hit Sulawesi. I use the plural 'disasters' because, as many of you know, there were multiple earthquakes, a tsunami and a liquefaction event. For those unfamiliar with liquefaction, it is when saturated or partially saturated soil substantially loses strength and stiffness in response to an applied stress - such as shaking during an earthquake - and in which material that is ordinarily a solid behaves like a liquid.

In other words, solid ground becomes liquid and swallows up things, moves things etc. This clip from BBC Indonesia does a good job of showing this as it happened in Palu despite the language barrier - I stood yesterday at the break in the road shown at 0:50

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e32Fz1Tg3ng

There was a place where we saw a house that was moved 100m from where it originally stood and was left resting on top of another house, on top of a third house that had sunk in the mud.

In another place where we stood there was still a three story high landslide of mud waiting to be cleared. It had gone through an area where there was a hospital. We also drove to the beach front to see the once bustling seashore abandoned - along with everything within about 200m of the new coastline (the water is much higher now than it was pre-tsunami).

My colleague Nyoman and I spoke at length about how scary it must have been. Where do you run, if you are actually lucky enough to see it coming. We compared it to Deep Impact, the movie. You watch the comet hit the earth, all of the tsunami action start and people run... they look almost silly running away from the oncoming wave.... but in the end: Where do you run to? Left, right? Away from the mud or wave, out of the path - if you can define the path?

It must have been petrifying.

Here are some shots. They are not mine. I don't take many photos these days when I'm in these sort of places - it seems irreverent.

To contrast this experience, last night four of us attended a "Volunteer Appreciation Night" that was put on by the local disaster coordination group. It included a testimonial from a worker at UNICEF thanking the local volunteers and those that had come into Palu to assist, and also a testimonial from a lady who had lost six members of her family through the liquefaction event. I couldn't believe the strength she showed as she spoke to us.

I also stood in awe and amazement of the whole group that were there as they actually celebrated the recovery so far with great music and free coffee (highly Islamic area so no alcohol) (and by free coffee I mean sugar syrup and milk that someone waved the coffee beans towards).

Indonesia 3

Today marks day 5 in some respects, having left Hobart Sunday, but it feels like I've been here for ages.

Sadly, apart from ducking out to find a coffee late yesterday afternoon (at "See You Latte", our new local favourite) and a run to the airport to farewell a colleague today, I haven't been outside the compound.

The "Compound" is massive and spreads over almost two blocks. It includes the Woodward Hospital, a nursing training school, a girls home, the Salvation Army Radio Station, East Palu Divisional Headquarters, the Woodward Corps, the Education and Learning Centre (a large training facility) and four houses - one of which is our quarters and office. The compound isn't contiguous, making it a little funny to get around, but it's large nonetheless.

The days have been filled with meetings. Meeting with THQ staff, DHQ staff, local emergency staff, Tear Fund and other potential partners, my own team and other visitors.

This means there aren't any great stories to tell; well, none of my own.

I have been amazed, as always, by the local Salvos in these cities and towns. One, Immanuel, is the Divisional Youth Secretary in East Palu and has been seconded to our team as a translator and assistant. He lost his brother-in-law in the Tsunami, whose body has never been recovered, and his sister is pregnant with the child of the lost husband. Immanuel is obviously traumatised - but SOOO resilient. He is among the many heroes that continue to serve while dealing with their own grief and loss. He is also a great singer and a bit of a joker, which I think is helping both him, and us.

We ended last night with a BBQ at DHQ to thank one of our departing team and to also allow one of The Salvation Army's national leaders to thank the local officers. Below are some photos, including the obligatory end-of-event dance.

Indonesia 2

Well, after 34 hours travel, meeting  with some headquarters staff in Jakarta and then moving on to Sulawesi... I now find myself coming to the end of day 1 as the new Team Leader for our international  support team working out of Palu.

For those that are still working out what happened here:

Earthquake in late September, followed by Tsunami, followed by second earthquake (a week later), "liquification" (water everywhere), a landslide...

The Salvation Army is well placed to help, too. In the affected area we have four divisions, comprising between 200-300 Corps, over 60 schools and a hospital. Our Emergency Services response, which I'm still getting my head around is helping thousands of families through (current count) 18 distinct projects that range from replacing Ambulances to providing WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) equipment, to looking a disaster risk reduction for the future and regenerating livelihoods.

Today has been all meetings, so there aren't any big stories to tell, except for that of Major Ety Fariani. She is the director of Woodward Hospital in Palu. On the day of the first earthquake, she managed (with her team) to evacuate the hospital completely without further injuries to anyone (!), set up mobile clinics and provide medical services to neighbouring towns. All of this while looking after her own team and taking in patients from all the other hospitals that couldn't cope. She is an absolute legend.

Otherwise, some new experiences for the first few days of travel:

Eating Snake Fruit and Mung Bean Juice
Finding that the urinals in the new Jakarta aiport are numbered - short men to number 1 (Dominic short, not me short), men needing to hold a frame to number 5 and so on.
Having my first bucket shower in a few years (our shower is on the left, our toilet on the right!)

Indonesia 1

Hi.

This is really a test post!

On November 5 I will join the Salvo's International Emergency Services crew gain as a Team Leader in Indonesia.

Currently we are responding by supporting the West Palu and East Palu divisions of The Salvation Army as they grapple with the disasters that hit northern Sulawesi over the last few weeks.

Keep posted for more news as I am able.

Brad