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Area of Operations
 
Through direct consultation with community leaders and local authorities supplemented by detailed analysis of information detailing the activities of other aid organizations, ISLAND AID has established that there are many areas of the west coast of Sumatra affected by the tsunami and earthquakes, that are yet to receive comprehensive assistance and some areas that have had almost no assistance at all.

In the early stages of the mission, it was necessary to focus solely on emergency assistance. ISLAND AID is now committed to a multi-tasking approach that maintains a long-term outreach and reconstruction capability combined with an emergency readiness capability based on a multipurpose vessel. (see our separate 'Long Range Strategy Plan and Capital Proposal' plus Appendix for full details)

While negotiations for an aid ship continue, ISLAND AID has been active in the areas accessible by charter boat and over-land transport from our headquarters near Padang on the central West Coast.
West Coast Sumatra & Islands
Tsunami and earthquake damage to isolated communities extends from the islands north of Sabang to the south of Siberut (Appendix A & B). This is a 700nm stretch of islands and coastline with a combined population of over 1.4 million.

ISLAND AID has utilized damage assessment reports and marine charts, and spoken to many local people to ascertain which areas are most in need and targeted aid accordingly. ISLAND AID has generally focused on isolated areas where other aid organizations have been unable to penetrate or have been and gone. It is proposed that ISLAND AID will continue to provide ICS to the communities where it is already operating, and in new areas which are identified as being too remote for mainstream aid to reach. (see Appendix G)

Target Population
Precise population data is impossible to obtain in North-West Aceh as all records in coastal communities have been lost and many of the village officials who had an understanding of the data perished in the tsunami. The data for Nias is more comprehensive and there are specific requests for aid from an overwhelming number of villages.

It is estimated that the total population of the northwest Aceh coastal areas prior to the events of December 26 was 600,000, with more than 50,000 in locations isolated by coastal subsidence and loss of roads and bridges. The offshore islands, including Nias, have an estimated combined population of over 850,000, with over 100,000 living in areas that are extremely difficult to access.

Listed below are the isolated communities where ISLAND AID has been working:
Lho Kruet, Pulau Raya, Baba Nipah, Patek and hinterland - NW Aceh
The combined population for this area was 22,000 pre-tsunami, but now believed to be only 12,000, with some villages experiencing a death toll of over 70%. 18 of 39 villages were destroyed and those that were left were decimated to an extraordinary degree. Of the 200+ fishing boats and 100+ fish traps pre-tsunami, less than 15 boats and 1 fish trap remain. ISLAND-AID worked with OBI to provide all emergency food and medical support for this area for February and March, and ACF started WFP distributions in early April. ACF has completed its distribution contract in this area and it is not clear if any other NGO is prepared to take on the role of distribution long term. The ISLAND-AID are extremely motivated to renew distribution to this area and reverse the drift back to refugee camps. (see Appendix L)
West Coast Simeulue
The combined population of the 3 sub-districts of West coast Simeulue ISLAND-AID has been asked to service exceeds 24,000. The bridge infrastructure specifically on the West coast is in very poor condition with many bridges either partly built or damaged beyond repair. However, ongoing seismic activity makes concrete work difficult and dangerous and it is likely that the west coast will be serviced by boat for many months and possibly years to come. ISLAND-AID was unable to complete their mission to the area due to time constraints, and would like to resume work in this area as soon as a new ship is available. (See Appendix F)
Onolimbu - East Nias
This river delta peninsular has a small population of around 3,500, but the isolation and severity of the subsidence coupled with the extreme poverty of the area warrant special attention. Vast swamplands offer no escape to high ground, and the increase in water levels due to the liquification of the delta will increase vulnerability to mass flooding during the next wet season.
Hinako Islands - Nias
Water is critically short due to extreme uplifting of these fragile coral islands. Wells are dry and very difficult to dig deeper due to hard coral rock. Beach landings are now inaccessible and new boat harbors will have to be constructed. The population is totally dependent on small boats.
Telos / Batu Islands - North Sumatra
While there have been only four reported deaths in this area, the population is still living in tents or makeshift shelters with many houses structurally compromised. ISLAND AID is continuing to investigate the needs here, which will require a detailed survey to be undertaken. SAI reports over 60% of the population are testing positive for malaria in villages visited to date.
Banyak Islands - Aceh
The population of just under 5,000 have now endured 3 massive quakes, two tsunamis, and 1.5m subsidence. Infrastructure is heavily damaged and the population is deeply traumatized.
West Coast Nias
This area has sustained severe damage after being hit by two large tsunamis immediately after sustaining severe quake damage. ISLAND AID visited the area to eveluate local needs. It is clear that there are three clusters of remote communities with between 3,000 and 5,000 persons in each along this very hard hit coast. Mandhere and Lolowau subdistricts are known to have suffered severe tsunami and quake damage and to have serious drinking water shortages.  NGOs are currently only able to reach the larger towns.

Gomo - South-East Nias  
While not a coastal district, Gomo has an extremely high population density, with the population exceeding 50,000 persons. Due to difficult terrain, there is only one very low grade road servicing the main town, and beyond that 37 of the 40 villages can only be reached by walking. The region’s history of natural disaster, brought about by poor agricultural practices, flooding and damage to rice fields has made the area extremely impoverished. There is an urgent need to replant denuded mountain slopes with bamboo and other fast growing species.
Mentawai Islands - West Sumatra
With the population of 60,000 widely dispersed and mostly living in low lying coastal villages, the Mentawai Islands are particularly vulnerable to tsunami damage. The area has been hit by tsunamis previously in 1797 and 1833 with considerable loss of life. The region is without roads and is totally dependant on dugout canoes for daily transport needs.

The population was severely traumatized by the April 10 quake as it came just days after a poster distribution by UNESCO featuring a misleading headline claiming the islands were sinking ‘because of earthquakes’. In fact the islands are gradually sinking during the quiet interludes between mega quakes. Seismologists expect the Mentawais will rise between 1 & 2m during the next major adjustment.

The poster caused significant panic immediately following the quakes. Almost all health workers, teachers and government employees fled the island, and locals have been living on hill tops since the quakes started . Some parts of the remote west coast have had no health services for six months. ISLAND AID is very anxious to survey the area with a medical team, especially given pre-tsunami health problems in the Mentawais were far worse than anything the ISLAND AID have experienced in post tsunami/quake Aceh or Nias.
Mainland Sumatra
Fisher populations along the Central and South West mainland coast is thought to exceed 500,000. A large proportion now face becoming jobless as boats are taken out of service by owners who can not afford to pay the fuel bills. While this section of the coast has not been impacted to date, Seismologists concur that massive adjustment is overdue based on the geological evidence of cyclic events locked into brain coral growth rings in the area.

The small village of Air Manis just south of Padang is home to 92 fishermen and their families. Once a dominant force in the community, these fisher families are now among the poorest in the area. In many way the situation in the village showcases the problems all artisanal fishermen and their families now face.
Mega Quake and Tsunami history of the West Coast.
To quote Professor McCloskey, the renowned seismologist:
"We should assume it will happen in the near future and do as much as quickly as we can…"
"For governments to take their eye off the ball of preparedness would be irresponsible."

ISLAND-AID believe government and major aid agencies will continue to underestimate the logistics problems along this wild and inaccessible coastline. We are ready to tackle the areas where conventional aid has no answers.