In 2004, the Boxing Day tsunami destroyed Banda Aceh, flattening countless homes, destroying livelihoods, and killing an estimated 169,000 people. Similarly, in 2006, a powerful earthquake hit Indonesia's largest island, Java, leaving an estimated 1.5 million homeless.

While Indonesia may be the world's third largest democracy, much of the urban and rural population are still living in abject poverty, despite the country's economic growth.

ActionAid in Indonesia

ActionAid Australia has been operating in Indonesia since 2005.

Due to the frequency and destructive nature of recent natural disasters, our focus across Indonesia has been to improve disaster risk preparedness and rebuild the livelihoods of families who are displaced by earthquakes and tsunamis.

ActionAid has been training, supporting and working with local NGOs to improve their capacity to implement disaster preparedness strategies against future natural disasters.

ActionAid has provided assistance in raising awareness about social issues, including gender-based discrimination and violence; and has encouraged communities to mobilise themselves through sustainable income generating activities.

We have actively encouraged the regeneration of new businesses through the provision of small grants, and the sustainability of businesses through appropriate disaster risk management.

Examples of our work in the region include the rebuilding of a school in Lhoknga (West coast of Banda Aceh), with financial support provided by Wollongong City Council and the Vietnamese Australian Buddhist Assistance Trust (VABAT).

In Aceh, we also assisted in the restoration of 40 brick factories that were damaged during the tsunami. The factories then provided plentiful jobs for the community as people began to rebuild their homes and their lives.

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