Page 39 - Sensors and Control Systems in Manufacturing

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O n e
Cha p te r

Mercy Corps was one of the first international relief and develop-
ment organizations to enter and begin an emergency response in
the once-closed province. Within a few days of the tsunami, we
had almost 30 veteran staff on the ground in Aceh, distributing
critical provisions and relief supplies for more than 100,000
survivors.
With assistance from international humanitarian organizations,
communities pulled together like never before to reopen schools
and hospitals, clean debris from streets, and care for survivors.
Mercy Corps helped encourage this renaissance of community
through an extensive cash-for-work program: tsunami survivors
were paid a daily living wage for their work, which infused flag-
ging local economy with much-needed cash. It was a new begin-
ning for Aceh in the wake of the world’s worst recent disaster. It
was an opportunity for peace; indeed, an agreement was finalized
between the government and separatist forces just a few months
later.
With collaboration from communities, local organizations and
government, Mercy Corps helped survivors quickly move on with
their lives.
“One of our greatest strengths is moving seamlessly from relief
and recovery to long-term development of communities affected
by disaster or crisis,” stated Mark Ferdig, Mercy Corps’ Program
Director in Aceh. “We are laying the groundwork for economic,
social, and technical sensors warning development. The goal is to
give communities the tools they need to succeed long after such
disasters.”
As a result, more than 400 small businesses reopened or were
created through an innovative Financial Access program, including:
17 local banks supported by Mercy Corps funds and training
21,000 farmers involved in organic gardening and other agricul-
ture programs
879 community groups formed to address ongoing issues and
ensure the sustainability of programs
104 health clinics and hospitals rehabilitated or supported with
critical equipment and supplies
Three years after the Indian Ocean tsunami—and more than a
decade after violent conflict engulfed its population—Mercy Corps
remains to help Aceh rebuild and become better.
The results are readily apparent in rebuilt villages and bright
green crop fields.
As they near the end of a long post-disaster reconstruction, the
Acehnese (people) are rising: more confident, capable, and collabora-
tive than ever before.