IOM relief operations in flood-hit districts of the Central
Highlands of Aceh are to be stepped up following receipt of a
$250,000 grant for lifesaving activities from the UN Central
Revolving Emergency Fund (CERF).

The floods, which began December 22nd, have affected an
estimated 350,000 people in the impoverished Sumatran province that
two years ago was the area worst impacted by the Asian tsunami.

IOM, which has already moved over 515 MT of essential food and
non food relief items into the area, is focusing on Bener Meriah,
Aceh Tengah and Gayo Lues districts, where the floods destroyed
homes and infrastructure, leaving thousands of villagers
destitute.

Last week IOM trucks began to reposition UN World Food Programme
food aid destined for flood victims from the provincial capital
Banda Aceh to Lhokseumaweh on the east coast. The operation is
continuing this week.

At the weekend, IOM delivered 450 family kits, including
blankets and kitchen utensils, donated by Catholic Relief Services
from the west coast town of Meulaboh to Gayo Lues. IOM trucks also
shipped 800 14-liter buckets and water purification tablets donated
by Oxfam and IFRC to the same district.

On Tuesday an IOM convoy left Medan, the provincial capital of
North Sumatra, carrying more non-food relief items and 50 MT of
rice donated the Tzu Chi Bhuddist Foundation. Tzu Chi previously
donated another 500 MT of rice, which IOM will be shipping to Aceh
Tamiang district this week.

IOM, which is working closely with the Indonesian authorities
and partner agencies, is uniquely positioned to deliver aid to the
victims of the disaster, because of its presence on the ground in
the affected areas. It  has ten district-level Information,
Counselling and Referral Service (ICRS) offices in Aceh that
provide livelihood support services and small business training to
thousands of former combatants from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
They also provide managed peace dividend grants to hundreds of
communities.

"The network of ICRS offices means that IOM is present in more
than 350 villages in the flood affected areas. They are playing a
key role in helping us and our partners to assess the situation and
respond appropriately,” says IOM Indonesia Deputy Chief of
Mission Paul Norton.

For more information, please contact:

Paul Norton

IOM Jakarta

Tel: +62 21 398 38 529

Mobile +62 811 895 651

E-mail: "mailto:pinorton@iom.int">pinorton@iom.int 

Bruno Oudmayer

IOM Banda Aceh

Tel: +62 651 7410 690

Mobile +62 812 699 0081

E-mail: "mailto:boudmayer@iom.int">boudmayer@iom.int