Better prepared after the tsunami
| The British Red Cross made preparing for disasters a priority in its work to help people in Indonesia recover from the devastating effects of the 2004 tsunami. It developed programmes in 17 villages working with communities to be better prepared for the future. | | |  | |
Strong communities
Community-based action teams were set up to lead the work. The team members include women, older and younger people, and are chosen by the villagers. In partnership with other local groups, they have planned and carried out a wide range of activities, including:
- training in first aid, search and rescue, and emergency response
- mapping out the main risks to the local area and how to reduce them
- building tsunami evacuation routes that lead to higher ground and reinforcing river banks
- identifying the most vulnerable households in the community, including older and disabled people
- raising awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters, in some cases using innovative methods like drama.
The British Red Cross finished its tsunami recovery activities in Indonesia in July 2008 but has handed over the disaster planning process to Australian aid agency Austcare. Until March 2009, Austcare will continue to help 13 villages in Aceh Besar district boost their resilience to disasters.
True stories
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 | | | Planting coconut palms
Coconut palms and other vegetation help protect homes from high seas. Kamarudin is part of a team replanting trees ripped up by the tsunami. | |
 | | | Creating evacuation routes
With a grant from the British Red Cross, villagers in Pulo Breuh, Indonesia, have built tsunami evacuation routes. | |
 | | | Building safer houses
As well as building houses after the tsunami, we have trained people in Indonesia to construct buildings better able to withstand earthquakes. | |
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