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Report of the Java Earthquake Medical
Emergency Aid
【June 5th, 2006】
Norimasa Orii
（2 of NICCO’ s staff, one doctor and one nurse in
the field at present） |
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－ Decision of launching the emergency aid and the
first day of the mobile clinic －
 
Villagers asking for contributions on the
road Seeking the cooperation from the village headman of
Jatimulyo
An Earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale rocked Java
Island, Indonesia on May 27th. The epicenter of the tremor
was the ancient city of Jogiakartam. Concerning the close
relationship between Indonesia and Japan, as the number of
dead exceeded 5,700, NICCO decided to dispatch an emergency
aid team to the affected areas. So as the case of “Camp
Japan” in the Pakistan Earthquake emergency relief, NICCO
decided to provide the highly demanded medical aid with the
cooperation of “Frontline (地球のステージ: Chikyu-no-stage)”, an
Yamagata-Prefecture NGO. After receiving the Japan Platform
approval for the project, two of NICCO staff have left from
Kansai Airport, Japan, on May 31st.
On June 2nd, NICCO staff reached the Bantul region where
there were severe damages. Most of the buildings in the east
side of the area are completely or partially collapsed, and
the people were to live in tents or in small sheds which
they had put up by themselves. Most of the debris has not
been cleared, and the people are seemed lost in the
confusion. They are living day by day not knowing how to
handle the situation and depending on distributions and the
mutual help by relatives.
In order to start the medical assistance, NICCO first
visited the health department of Bantul. Offering the
medical assistance to those regions where medical treatment
could not have been provided so far, we were appointed to
the Dlingo district in the Eastern mountainous region of
Bantul. Dlingo district is made up of six villages and about
23,000 inhabitants make their living with agriculture. So as
many other affected areas, approximately 80 to 90 percent of
the houses had collapsed, and the people are forced to live
in tents or temporary sheds. Due to its geographic features
of mountainous and remote area, people are living in 60
separated settlements, and any of the service such as
medical and distribution has not reached people there.
People come out onto the road carrying boxes in their hands
and ask for money or any kind of contributions. These are
the people who in general would never had to beg, and this
behavior shows that they are now really facing the
difficulties. We started off with the hearing of the various
people in the community; the six villages’ headmen, doctors
and nurses of the two clinics in the district and midwives
from the villages. It is revealed that originally it was
difficult enough for the people to receive medical services
in this mountain area, and it becomes even more difficult
after the earthquake. Moreover, now people are forced to
live in tents without sufficient food. They are fall into
the feeling of distress and helplessness as facing such a
circumstances.
Thereupon, NICCO decided to arrange a mobile clinic team,
through which the doctor and the nurse visit villages by
vehicle and provide healthcare to the patients. With the
medicine and the vehicle, on 5th of June, three days after
the arrival, the NICCO mobile clinic team was ready to start
their operation with all the necessary arrangement and
coordination with relevant institutions such as divisional
health institution, UN and other international organizations
settled.
For the very first day, we worked in the community of
Temuwuh. In cooperation with the doctor from “Frontline
(地球のステージ: Chikyu-no-stage) “ East Timor who also have the
study abroad experience in Indonesia, the nurse Mrs. Keiko
Ando from JOV (Japan Overseas Volunteers) OG and two
midwives from the village, we performed medical examination
and prescription of medicine for 112 villagers.
We are continuing the medical treatment by visiting one of
the six villages each day during a period of coming 4 weeks.
Besides recording the villager’s health condition and
reporting it to the local clinic, we prepare in case of the
outbreak of epidemic and food poisoning and also offer
aftercare to those returning home from the clinic.
Additionally, we are taking preventive steps towards the
improvement of nutrition and hygiene environment and support
the stressed victims from the healthcare aspect.
 
112 patients were treated on the first day. Dr.
Aida from East Timor gives medical advice to the patient.
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We welcome your donation:
●Japanese Postal Transfer
Account no. : 01070-5-60791
(please specify ”Java Earthquake Emergency Aid” on the sheet.)
Account holder: 社団法人 日本国際民間協力会 (shadanhoujin
Nipponkokusaiminkankyouryokukai)
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