Women's rights to land are critical for Post-tsunami recovery, says Oxfam Banda Aceh, Indonesia

Oxfam Ireland Press Release
08 March 2007

Preliminary findings of Oxfam study released on the occasion of the International Women's Day, show that land conflicts are increasing and a significant number of women have been denied the right to own and inherit land since the tsunami.

Initial public health assessments in the area have shown that the water in the sub-districts of Samudra, Bayu is salty and contaminated by high level of iron, manganese, and sulfur. Currently, families living in the area have limited access to water and they have to rely on the water available from shallow wells and the nearby river for bathing and washing. Two villages are not connected to any network.

"Contaminated water supplies can further cause enormous public health problems and impact the livelihoods of farmers", said Raphael Mutiku, Oxfam Project Manager in Lhokseumawe. "Access to water is a fundamental human rights. The construction of this new water supply system will improve the lives of many people", he added.

The construction of the pipeline and the water treatment plant has started and fresh water is expected to be running through the pipes in June. The water network and connections in the villages should be completed by the end of the year. Submersible pumps will propel the water from Kruengpase river to the water treatment plant where it will be treated and stored in a ground water reservoir from where it will be pumped to the village water network. Once completed, each resident will have access to 100 litres of water every day.

Oxfam response on the East coast has assisted more than 30,000 people on the east coast of Aceh over the past two years, primarily by providing water and sanitation facilities, promoting public health and hygiene in communities, building over 290 houses and creating income opportunities for over 7,000 tsunami survivors through 'cash for work' schemes and over 1,800 cash grants to help people start small businesses.

In terms of public heath response, over 180 community health volunteers have been trained. Hygiene clubs for children have been opened in four schools in Jambo Timu, Kuta Krueng, Puuk and Kuala Cangkoi. Over 1,700 wells and 600 toilets and bathing areas have been rehabilitated and built. About 16 million litres of water have been tankered to barracks and remote areas.

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Oxfam Ireland is an independent member of Oxfam International- a group of thirteen non-governmental agencies dedicated to fighting poverty and related injustice around the world.

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