Search
Close this search box.
Campaign

Campaign to Raise Voices Against Violence Towards Women

Gallery

Commemorating the Indonesian Women’s Movement Day on December 22, the Resilience Fighters Anti-Violence Solidarity Community (Perisai), together with the Empowerment Network for Resilient Women (Jekata) from Sukabumi and Purwakarta, supported by CARE Indonesia, held a leisurely walk at the Car Free Day event on Sudirman-Thamrin Street, Jakarta, attended by 40 participants.

Aspiration was also expressed through the reading of poems, theatrical performances, and chants with the theme of anti-violence against women. Over 100 aspirations and community support messages were written on a wish tree. On this occasion, the Commissioner of the National Commission on Violence Against Women, Siti Aminah Tardi, also expressed her support.

YCP

Remembering 20 Years After the Asian Tsunami: Ruin, Recovery and Resilience

Stories

[December 26, 2024 – Bangkok, Thailand] – Twenty years ago, the world witnessed one of the most devastating disasters in modern history. On December 26, 2004, a powerful 9.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia, triggering a massive tsunami with waves reaching up to 30 meters high, devastating millions of lives across 14 countries. The Indian Ocean Tsunami caused the loss of over 227,000 lives, with Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand among the hardest hit.

Aceh, Indonesia

Aceh, Indonesia, suffered the greatest losses, with about 170,000 lives loss. “I arrived in Aceh in mid-January 2005, and what I witnessed was beyond imagination,” said Renee Picasso Manoppo, Humanitarian and Emergency Response Manager at CARE Indonesia. “Entire buildings were flattened, fields replaced what used to be homes, and bodies were everywhere. It felt like all hope had vanished.”

The response to the tsunami faced immense challenges. Thousands were left homeless, communication relied solely on satellite phones, and coordinating aid was daunting, with hundreds of flights arriving daily in Banda Aceh. Despite these obstacles, CARE Indonesia delivered clean water, sanitation, housing, health services and livelihood supports to over 350,000 people in Banda Aceh, Aceh Besar and island of Simeulue, paving the way for long-term recovery. The tsunami-related program concluded in 2009, leaving a lasting impact on the regions. “Today, Banda Aceh especially, has come a long way,” reflected Renee. “Disaster preparedness is now deeply ingrained. Schools teach children how to respond to crises, and communities are better equipped to face future challenges.”

Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, the tsunami claimed 30,500 lives and left widespread destruction. Mullaitivu, a coastal region, was among the worst affected. “When the sea pulled back, we thought it was drying up, not knowing what was coming. My father-in-law saved my son and me by holding onto a tree, but he lost his life to the waves.” said Vasthiampillai Jeyarani, a survivor. She is one of many whom CARE worked with to rebuild home and supported long-term recovery in her community. Beyond immediate relief, a district-level Disaster Management Center was established to prepare for future crises. This has become vital during Cyclone Fengal, when early warnings saved lives and property.

Today, women in Northern Sri Lanka are at the forefront of rebuilding efforts. Many have started small businesses, such as food production and handicrafts, helping to support their families and boost the local economy.

Andaman coast, Thailand

In Thailand, the tsunami claimed over 5,000 lives, devastating the Andaman coast, a popular tourist destination. While much of the media attention during the tsunami focused on international tourists visiting Thailand during the holiday season, local fishing families faced the lasting impact. Over 500 fishing boats, ten trawlers, and essential infrastructure were destroyed, leaving many without homes or livelihoods.

Raks Thai Foundation (CARE Thailand) focused on non-tourist areas such as Krabi, northern Phang Nga, and Ranong, where aid was limited, to support vulnerable communities, including the Moken; an indigenous community, and migrant workers. To avoid duplication and inefficiencies in relief efforts, the team introduced community-owned revolving funds. “The principle was simple – provide cash directly to affected people instead of preselected relief items,” said Promboon Panitchpakdi, Executive Director of Raks Thai Foundation. Communities managed the funds, setting repayment terms to ensure sustainability.

For the Moken, an indigenous seafaring community, these funds were transformative, allowing them to repair boats and restore their traditional seafaring way of life. The initiative supported immediate recovery and laid the foundation for long-term resilience.

20 years after Indian Ocean Tsunami

“As we mark 20 years since the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami, we reflect on a tragedy that changed the global humanitarian landscape. The 2004 tsunami was a turning point not just for CARE, but for the entire humanitarian community. It taught us the importance of coordination and the resilience of the human spirit. Today, we face increasingly frequent and complex crises, worsened by climate change, which disproportionately affect the poorest and most vulnerable, especially women and girls.

At CARE, we have learned that addressing humanitarian crises demands more than immediate relief. It necessitates supporting recovery, building resilience, and proactively preparing for future shocks. We are committed to community-led early warning systems, disaster preparedness, and livelihood protection. As challenges grow, so does our resolve to help those most affected by climate change to adapt and thrive,” ended Ramesh Singh, Asia Regional Director.

Tsunami images

Indonesia Tsunami – click here
Thailand Tsunami – click here and Thailand Recovery click here

For media enquiries, please contact:

Sarita Suwannarat, Asia Regional Communications Advisor

Email: Sarita.Suwannarat@care.org

20 years of Tsunami – Aceh, I

20 years of Tsunami – Aceh, Indonesia

Stories

On 26 December 2004, the world witnessed one of the worst humanitarian crises in history—the Indian Ocean Tsunami. Aceh, Indonesia, was the hardest hit. In Indonesia alone, the casualties reached an estimated 170,000, leaving a lasting impact on the region and its people. Here, we share conversations and reflections with our colleagues in Indonesia as they look back 20 years ago.

Facing the immediate aftermath

“I arrived in Aceh in mid-January 2005, and what I witnessed was beyond anything I could have imagined. The devastation stretched as far as the eye could see—entire buildings flattened, open fields where houses and buildings once stood, and bodies everywhere. The scale of destruction felt like all hope for life was gone,” said Renee Picasso Manoppo, Humanitarian and Emergency Response Manager at Yayasan CARE Peduli (CARE Indonesia).

Although he wasn’t with CARE when the tsunami struck, Renee was working in the humanitarian sector, contributing to the global effort to save lives in Indonesia. “My work focused on distributing aid to meet urgent needs, particularly water and food supplies, with water being in especially high demand. Most of our efforts were concentrated in Banda Aceh, Calang, and Meulaboh.

The responding process presented significant challenges, especially regarding shelters. Relocating people to new areas was difficult, and the legal aspects of rebuilding homes were difficult, as many homes were completely destroyed. Infrastructure was in ruins, and communication relied solely on satellite phones or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology, as all other signals were down. This made coordination extremely challenging, particularly as it was Indonesia’s first experience with a disaster of this magnitude. The logistical demands were immense, with hundreds of aid flights arriving daily in Banda Aceh, creating bottlenecks and further complicating distribution efforts,” Renee recalled.

The challenges and recovery

By 2006, during the recovery phase, devastation was still visible. “Ships rested on top of houses, and massive vessels were stranded in the middle of the city,” said Awalia Murtiana, Program Manager at Yayasan CARE Peduli (CARE Indonesia). “During my time there, earthquakes were frequent and unpredictable -happening during lunch, while sleeping, or even in meetings. They didn’t last long, but many residents were still deeply traumatized whenever the ground shook,” she recalled.

Although Awalia was not with CARE at that time, her work focused on addressing reproductive health issues in tsunami-affected areas including strengthening the capacity of local districts to manage reproductive health data systems, and distributing essential reproductive health kits to affected communities.

“During the rebuilding process, local residents initially struggled to adapt to the influx of volunteers and workers from around the world. However, the immense need for local labor fostered resilience among the community. Many women took on roles such as security guards and other jobs. It was enlightening to see women, who traditionally worked in the fields, embracing these non-traditional roles.” Awalia recalled.

Aceh Today – A legacy of resilience

“The progress in Aceh is extraordinary,” Renee said. “Community-based disaster risk reduction has expanded significantly, and disaster preparedness is now deeply ingrained in the community. The Aceh Disaster Management Agency (BPBA) is highly active, with evacuation facilities, routes, and signs established throughout the region. Schools have even incorporated disaster response into their curricula, ensuring children are better equipped to face future crises,” he continues.

The Aceh Tsunami Museum serves as a poignant reminder of the past, a place where visitors can confront the magnitude of the tragedy and learn from its lessons. ” Aceh has come a long way. it has emerged stronger and better prepared to face future challenges,” Awalia added.

CARE Indonesia responded immediately to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, delivering lifesaving aid and driving long-term recovery efforts for impacted communities. The program reached over 350,000 people in Aceh, providing clean water, sanitation, housing, livelihood support, and health services. Completed in 2009, the tsunami program laid the foundation for ongoing efforts, with CARE Indonesia continuing to support vulnerable communities and strengthen their resilience against future disasters.

Image from Indonesia: Click here

Photo credit: Renee Picasso Manoppo / May 2005