Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Aceh (Fides Service) - A small seed of hope has been planted in Aceh, still suffering the consequences of the tsunami last December. The International Organisation for Migration has opened a small clinic here, the first in a series of 51 health centres destined for the thousands of homeless people in and around the main town Banda Aceh. The clinic, opened in the district of Lambaro will serve the medical needs of 1,500 homeless people living in two local refugee camps.
The clinic’s medical equipment and medical supplies was supplied by various aid agencies such as Americares. All IOM clinics are prefabs which can be converted into schools or social centres when medical emergencies are over. Many hospitals in the area were destroyed by the tsunami and for the local authorities a working healthcare system is a priority.
Recently the IOM handed over new semi-permanent homes to families made homeless by the tsunami and it is making an effort to accelerate the handing over of more homes to meet the great need of homes in the Aceh province. After the seaquake disaster which left more than one million families homeless the Indonesian authorities asked IOM to provide 11,000 semi-permanent homes.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 9/5/2005 righe 23 parole 233)
