Aid in Action
U.S. Ambassador Visits Bantul as Earthquake Relief Transitions to Recovery
Bantul |
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
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USAID/ Basic Human Services
Ambassador Pascoe says “hello” to one of Bantul’s newest residents during a return visit to the earthquake-stricken region on June 9th. The Ambassador announced that U.S. assistance efforts would transition from immediate relief to long-term recovery.
U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia B. Lynn Pascoe visited Bantul district on Friday, June 9 to announce that the United States’ response to the Central Java-Yogyakarta earthquake would now transition from relief to recovery. Ambassador Pascoe witnessed the transition first-hand as he visited the U.S. Military field hospital in Sewon Stadium and a USAID-sponsored Red Cross aid distribution site several kilometers away. The two sites provided emergency medical and food assistance to survivors in the days following the May 27th earthquake.
Having successfully treated more than 2,300 residents of Bantul since its opening, the U.S. Military field hospital at Sewon Stadium discontinued surgeries and other major medical services on Saturday June 10th, prior to ceasing all services the following day. To meet the long-term health needs of earthquake survivors, the U.S. Government, through USAID, will continue to complement the Ministry of Health’s ongoing measles and tetanus immunization campaign by providing health personnel and supporting the campaign’s operational costs.
At the Red Cross aid distribution site in Bantul, Ambassador Pascoe checked on the status of several local residents he had met during a previous visit to the area on May 31st. On that day, the Ambassador met with a local resident suffering from severe facial burns resulting from a fire triggered by the earthquake. The man was then immediately brought to the U.S. military field hospital at Sewon Stadium for much-needed treatment. More than one week later, his burn injuries were healing and he even felt well enough to come out and personally greet Ambassador Pascoe.
The United States commitment to the earthquake-stricken areas in and around Central Yogyakarta will remain firm as activities transition from relief to recovery. USAID has begun allocating funds to support the transition from relief to recovery in a variety of sectors including water and sanitation, health, shelter, education, community services and economic recovery.