The Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004 devastated the Indonesian province of Banda Aceh and totally destroyed the area’s infrastructure. An estimated 167,000 people were killed, and at least another 500,000 people lost everything they owned.

International Non-governmental Organisations (INGOs) rushed to provide relief and begin reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes. However, these programmes did not take into account the specific needs of older people.

To address this issue HelpAge International launched a programme in Banda Aceh to support the government and INGOs active in the region, and ensure older people’s needs were catered for in the initial response and longer-term rehabilitation programme.

Key achievements in 2007

HelpAge International’s advocacy, training and technical support activities have so far improved the lives of around 10,000 tsunami-affected older people, working on three thematic areas:

Social Protection

HelpAge International has worked with the Aceh Provincial Health Department, to provide age-friendly primary healthcare services for 7,000 older people in Bireuen. Older people say that their health has improved as a result. "We are no longer idle and can participate in all areas of life, work in the fields and play with our grandchildren," said one older person.

Working with national partner Yayasan Emong Lansia (YEL), HelpAge International is setting up a homecare programme to provide home visits to up to 80 tsunami-affected older people in Banda Aceh. With local partner YBA, we have helped set up 14 older people’s associations in tsunami-affected areas, providing over 1,000 older people with a forum for social interaction and community development.

Building sustainable livelihoods

Older people often find it impossible to obtain loans to rebuild their livelihoods because they are regarded as a high-risk category. HelpAge International has lobbied dozens of INGOs to promote the inclusion of older people in livelihood programmes.

Working in partnership with the British Red Cross Society, we have ensured the inclusion of older people in one of the biggest tsunami rehabilitation programmes in Aceh, directly benefiting around 1,000 older people through livelihood grants and age-friendly housing.

With local partner YBA, we have implemented a livelihood cash grant programme, enabling almost 800 older people severely affected by the tsunami to re-establish livelihood activities.  For example, older people have used the grant to buy livestock or provide a small shop for their community. Many have reported that the initial grant of approximately US$250 is now worth more and is allowing them to buy medicines or assist with their grandchildren’s education. 

Disaster risk reduction (DRR)

Older people are seldom included in disaster planning activities and rarely regarded as a vulnerable group that requires assistance in emergency situations. Training sessions and workshops held with other local and international NGOS have raised awareness of the need to include older people in disaster risk reduction programmes and their particular requirements and capabilities.

HelpAge International provided support to the British Red Cross Society to ensure age-friendliness of its DRR programme. Older people and their communities have also benefited from training in DRR.

The future

In 2008, HelpAge International in Banda Aceh will enhance the sustainability of the activities implemented over the past two years. This includes building the capacity of 14 older people’s associations to develop into independent community-based organisations.

HelpAge International will also provide technical support to the BRCS evaluation of its social grants programme to ensure the results are age-friendly.

Efforts will be made to strengthen the Bireuen primary healthcare model and it will be replicated in two more districts, Aceh Besar and Aceh Jaya. In addition, HelpAge International will lobby the Indonesian Government to adopt the homecare model, ensuring its sustainability.