Red Cross helps open new homes

As a result of the partnership between the American Red Cross and the International Organization for Migration, an estimated 77,000 tsunami survivors are expected to benefit from housing construction, water and sanitation services and community health and hygiene promotion.

Each day over the past 13 months has been a struggle for Cut Sriyani. When the Dec. 24, 2004 tsunami demolished her community near Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Sriyani lost all that she loved the most in life - her husband, three children, other family members, friends and her home.

The trauma haunted her for months. She found herself screaming uncontrollably at times, leading her to eventually seek psychiatric help. Now, Sriyani's condition has improved dramatically, and she says the construction of new homes in her community of Cot Paya has been a big part of her recovery.

"I have had a very hard time since the tsunami, and I believe that getting this house is the final cure I need," said Sriyani.

Through the joint efforts of the American Red Cross and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 44 new homes have been constructed for the people of Cot Paya, including Sriyani. This week, the American Red Cross and IOM honored those residents with a special site opening ceremony.

Dozens of local residents, government and community leaders and staff and volunteers from the Indonesian Red Cross were on hand as American Red Cross and IOM officials handed over keys to Sriyani and other Cot Paya residents. The ceremony also featured a traditional Acehnese blessing of the homes.

"Since the tsunami disaster, Aceh has received much help from many organizations from around the world," said Muhyan Yunan, assistant to the governor of Aceh province, in his remarks at the event. "We give our thanks to them all, and today at Cot Paya, especially to our friends at American Red Cross and IOM and for their help in Aceh communities."

In addition to funding IOM's construction of 5,000 new homes, the American Red Cross is providing its expertise in water and sanitation systems to a total of 11,000 transitional housing units being built by IOM in Aceh province.

"All of the work that we do is for the people of Aceh," said Dellaphine Rauch-Houekpon, program coordinator for the American Red Cross Tsunami Recovery Program in Indonesia. "We are here working together with the Indonesian Red Cross and can do projects like this because of IOM and it's all made possible through the help of local government and the people of Aceh."

As a result of these vital partnership efforts, an estimated 77,000 tsunami survivors are expected to benefit from housing construction, water and sanitation services and community health and hygiene promotion.

"We are fortunate that the American Red Cross has chosen us to be their partner in this very big project," said Bill Hyde, chief of Indonesia Disaster Recovery Program for IOM. "Look around you - you see these 44 houses, along with more houses, a medical clinic and school across the street - it's a fully functioning community. By all of us working together, all of this has been possible."

This new community is taking another step toward recovery for tsunami survivors like Sriyani, who smiled pensively as she ran her hand across the freshly painted doorway of her new home.

"I really like the color," she said shyly. "And I really love my new house."