43 Appendix B -  About Isolated Community Support Isolated Community Support (ICS) Isolated Community Support (ICS) is an ISLAND-AID initiative to ensure that isolated communities are provided with adequate assistance following a natural disaster. Isolated communities include those that have been overlooked because they are too small or too remote to attract mainstream aid support; and those that are inaccessible by land or air. ICS is provided in the affected communities in a three-step relief and reconstruction plan: Stage One: focusing on emergency search, rescue and assistance. This includes the assessment of damage, and provision of emergency aid to isolated communities. Stage Two: focusing on trauma, disease control and basic logistical frameworks. In consultation with the communities, primary needs are established, which are then met with medical, shelter and food resources. Stage Three: will involve long-term sustainable community rehabilitation and reconstruction. Through consultation with local elders and specific target groups, ISLAND-AID will determine long-term needs, and develop practical, creative and holistic solutions to meet those needs. Progress to Date A web appeal and e-mail distribution initiated hours after the Tsunami eventually raised over $49,000 in private donations. Within five days ISLAND-AID had two charter boats loaded and funded by AusAID, and in less than a month additional funds had been pledged by the ARRF (Rolls Royce, HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank) for the charter of the Batavia, the acquisition of four beach-landing boats, outboard motors, and communications equipment. During the first four months of the ICS program, the 800-ton ex-ferry KM Batavia served as the mother-ship: carrying medical teams and volunteers, medicine, food, shelter materials, body bags, bottled water, sanitation supplies and clothing. Batavia anchored near towns and villages, then beach landing boats were used to ferry aid to beaches, river mouths, small islands and into ports that were too badly damaged to be used by larger vessels. ISLAND-AID has proven that a mother-ship, combined with outboard powered skiffs, can deliver goods to beaches and river mouths that are too dangerous or shallow for large vessels to service, and at far greater delivery rates than local timber boats. Recent indications about the complete ineffectiveness of the temporary West Coast Road as a method of aid distribution only reinforces the need for more logistical support via the Sea-Bridge network. Six Months Numbers at a Glance: • Aid distributed = 650+ metric tons of food, shelter, hygiene and reconstruction supplies (dominant partner OBI) • Aid Distributed by land = 50+ metric tons in Nias (Rotary UK) • Support for OBI medical team in Aceh = 5,000+ patients treated • Support for mixed medical teams in Simeulue and Nias = 2,730 patients treated • Funds raised in first 6 months = US$500,000 (including receivables) • Equipment donated in first 6 months = US$50,000+ • Volunteers aboard Batavia and other boats = 150+ • Volunteers active at home = 30+ For a detailed summary of ISLAND-AID’s activities and achievements, refer to the updates section on ISLAND-AID’s website www.island-aid.org (see also Appendix M for photos) Keys to Success ISLAND-AID has had much success in the implementation of projects throughout the region. The keys to ISLAND-AID’s success include: • Committed leadership with many years of local experience; • A unique "Sea-Bridge" aid concept tailored to post tsunami conditions off the Sumatra coast; • Network support to locate and charter a suitable large capacity vessel within days. • Direct public donations. • Corporate donor interest converted to sustained sponsorship; • Partner NGO aid supplies and medical teams; • Volunteer support through ongoing recruitment; • Ability to respond rapidly to changing conditions; and • Media exposure to raise public awareness of our initiative. Vitally important to the success of ISLAND-AID has been the involvement of impacted communities in the organization and planning of projects. This has enabled ISLAND-AID to create sustainable, culturally specific and appropriate solutions. However, the continued success of the mission is contingent upon the ongoing support from sponsors and direct public support through donations. Without the capital to invest in such projects the mission is incapable of sustaining the running costs to service such remote and devastated areas.