Aid in Action
Access to Clean Water a Key to Survival in the Aftermath of the Central Java-Yogyakarta Earthquake
Yogyakarta |
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
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USAID/Basic Human Services
Yogyakarta residents affected by the May 27th earthquake demonstrate their appreciation for clean drinking water. Contamination of well-drawn water was a major concern in many villages where sanitary conditions broke down in the aftermath of the earthquake.
USAID and CARE are using a simple technology to ensure that 200,000 people affected by the Central Java-Yogyakarta earthquake have sufficient access to clean drinking water. In the aftermath of many natural disasters, water-borne diseases from contaminated sources threaten to kill even more victims than the initial disaster. Residents of earthquake-affected areas in and around Yogyakarta are ensuring the safety of their drinking water with just a few drops of Air RahMat, a water purification solution provided through USAID’s safe water drinking program.
USAID and CARE first introduced this inexpensive, yet effective, water treatment following a cyclone that struck West Timor in February 2004. USAID-sponsored relief efforts again utilized Air RahMat in Aceh following the devastating tsunami of December 2004. When a disaster strikes, effective distribution of Air RahMat can guarantee access to safe drinking water to tens of thousands of families for a fraction of the cost of supplying bottled water. Dr. Endang Widyastuti of CARE has distributed the Air RahMat product throughout Indonesia and hopes that it will eventually enjoy wider use in other countries affected by natural disasters. An alumnae of the U.S. Government’s International Visitors Program, where she received training in disaster assistance preparedness, Dr. Widyastuti has had her share of experience putting this training to use in recent years in Indonesia. Dr. Widyastuti commented, on her way to an earthquake-affected village on the outskirts of Yogyakarta: “Of course, we are tired of the disasters, but we are still ready to help.” Providing access to clean drinking water through a simple and inexpensive solution, such as Air RahMat, is one important way that Dr. Widyastuti and USAID are helping those affected by Indonesia’s most recent natural disaster.