AAI recently deployed an assesment team to southern Lebanon to assess the damage that has been thrust upon the fragile communities in the south of the country. The team was able to advise our partner organisations on logistics and security issues and traveled throughout the affected regions. The team has now left Lebanon after establishing valuable links. AAI appreciates the work of our staff, Gavin Humphries and Will Scott.

Click here to read more about AAI in Lebanon on our website.

Immediately after the May 2006 earthquake that affected the island of Java , AAI deployed a Disaster Assessment Response Team (DART) who were on the ground within 24 hours of the earthquake. The DART immediately commenced emergency medical treatment in the isolated and remote areas of Bantul. The medical component of the DART consisted of two doctors, two nurses and two paramedics. Our DART utilised local motorcycle teams to provide mobile medical clinics in remote effected areas.

After the initial work of searching and retrieving patients who did not have access to medical care, AAI began long term capacity building within the existing health care system. AAI identified existing clinic locations where tented medical facililities could be established with assistance from UNICEF. AAI conducted training and education with exsisting health care workers in various areas of health management including medical case definition, treatment of notifiable diseases, early warning disease surveillance, spinal patient care and trauma management.

With a large team already in Java, AAI was well placed to respond to the tsunami that devastated the southern coast of Java in July. The destruction and loss of life in that region was tragic. AAI responded by providing emergency medical care and later with a malaria control and education program. AAI were the last INGO to remain in Pangandarang and provided vital support to the many thousands of IDP's still unable to return home. Many thanks to Dave Fuller, Dave (Millhouse) Millar and Don Fonenot for establishing and completing a very successful hygeine program.

Recognising the need to reconstruct destroyed medical clinics, AAI in partnership with OpUSA, commenced a reconstruction project which included the medical clinic at Seloharjo Desa, Pundong Sub-District and another clinic at Mangunan Desa, Dlingo Sub-District . AAI was the first orgaination to finish the construction of a medical clinic after the earthquake. The Seloharjo Pustu was handed over to the Government and community at an official opening on the 22nd of September 2006 . The clinic was opened with a complete stock of medical supplies and equipment sourced in part from Direct Relief International . A big thankyou to Brett Williams for all his support. The Mangunan Desa medical clinic is expected to be finished by early December 2006.

Having carried out emergency health operations within the Bantul District, AAI also saw the need for Water/Sanitation (watsan) projects to address other major health issues. UNICEF and the watsan cluster identified well cleaning and repair, reconstruction of latrine structures, and hygiene sensitization as the three main priorities. In the Pandak Sub-District AAI have cleaned and repaired in excess of 650 wells, distributed over 2000 latrines shelter kits (while concurrently training locals on construction techniques and buidling latrines for families who are unable to support the program themself). AAI, along with local health staff have conduction hygiene sensitization and distribution of family hygiene kits to 2000 families in the area. AAI has also distributed 150 rubble cleaning kits to the community to assist with house reconstruction activities.

AAI has now commenced the construction of 15 transitional bamboo school buildings within the Pandak and Pundong Sub-Districts in partnership with UNICEF. These transitional school buildings are designed to last between two and five years and provide an excellent long term alternative to tents. While the GoI has been remarkable swift in its response to education reconstruction planning, these transitional buildings will provide approximately 1,000 elementry level students with greater opportunities to learn over the approaching monsoon season.

As a result of AAI 's efforts since the emergency, we have developed excellent relationships with the local community and an extremely good working relationship with sub-district level Government officials in Pandak and Pundgong. We have now established a permanent base in Jogjakarta with office space and living quarters for five people. We have a small fleet of vehicles and locally employed fulltime staff to facilitate the many programs we currently have underway.

The current team in Indonesia lead by Dominic Bowen, has had support and technical advise from its two most recent volunteers, Michelle Bruell and Michael Glockle: who complete an energetic national team with our long term support continuing from Eva Pitaloka and Daniel Pongsamma.

AAI wish to thank all those other volunteers who responded to the Java earthquake and provided valuable support and have helped to establish a possible long term program in Java; Sasha Poll, Will Scott, David Millar, Donald Fonenot, Richard, Dave Fuller, Doctors Bryan Chaffee and Dennis Stempler, plus the great contribution from the many Indonesian volunteers which we could never have had such great success without.

Click here to read more about AAI in Indonesia on our website.

With growing civil unrest in Timor-Leste, AAI was the first medical INGO to respond to the Timor-Leste crisis by sending in a highly experienced DART lead by Nathan Mullins and Gavin Humphries. The DART provided valuable medical assistance to many of the Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps and to the Dili Ambulance Service. AAI spent a busy month, supported by AustCARE, carrying out highly successful clinics in the many refugee camps, which were established in and around the Dili township. AAI wishes to thank volunteers Paul Piaia, Tim Semple, Donald Fontenot and Dr Brian Chaffee.

Click here to read more about AAI in Timor Leste on our website.

AAI's volunteer of the Quarter has been awarded to Michael Glockle who recently volunteered in our Jogjakarta program. Michael was instrumental in the development and roll out of the Elementary Schools and provided AAI with a very high level of technical expertise that has ensured a quality outcome well in excess of the program specifications. Congratulations and well done Michael.

AAI has recently redesigned its website to make it more appealing and user friendly. This new format will allow AAI personnel out in the field to upload data to the website from anywhere in the world using special satellite technology to connect. It was recently tested in East Timor with great success as AAI personnel uploaded situation reports daily from the field. A big thankyou to Matt Morrision at www.mintleafstudio.com.au for the redesign.