News and Events

Tsunami Update

Sr. Pat Eck, as chairperson of Bon Secours Health System, recently toured Banda Aceh, Indonesia at the invitation of Catholic Relief Services and witnessed the Tsunami devastation experienced by people half way around the world a year ago. Worst affected was the Indonesian province of Aceh, closest to the quake epicentre, where more than two-thirds of the deaths occurred and widespread devastation ensued. Tens of thousands of survivors are still living in tents and at least 80,000 new houses need to be built.

Towns flattened to the ground no longer exist. Families are still scattered living in tents as they try to put their lives back together. Indonesia, as well as several other countries, continues to cope with rebuilding the infrastructure of cities where you see naked foundations where buildings once stood.

As part of a six-member team from CRS, Sr. Pat viewed the on-going assistance provided to Tsunami victims by CRS. Her photo album here shows the extent of destruction left in the wake of the Tsunami’s waves of up to 100 ft. The earthquake and its tsunami killed more than 283,100 people, making it one of the worst disasters ever experienced.

Indonesia's Aceh province on the island of Sumatra suffered the greatest loss of life after the December 26 earthquake and tsunami: over 130,000 dead, another 93,458 missing, and 474,619 displaced, according to official figures. Some coastal villages lost more than 70% of inhabitants. 44% of the people lost their livelihoods, according to the Asian Development Bank. Another strong earthquake in March near Nias island off the coast of Sumatra claimed about another 900 lives and caused further damage to communities.

The Indonesian government estimated total damage from the tsunami at $4.5 to $5 billion — almost equal to Aceh's GDP. Relief experts estimate it could take up to a decade for some places to recover fully, and reconstruction will cost about $9 billion. A great deal of humanitarian aid was needed due to widespread damage of the infrastructure, shortages of food and water, and economic damage. Epidemics were worrisome due to the high population density and tropical climates. Humanitarian and government agencies' primary concerns were to provide sanitation facilities and fresh drinking water to contain the spread of diseases.