Yogyakarta, Indonesia — June 26, 2007 — Each year IRD distributes approximately $39 million worth of humanitarian commodities, including pharmaceuticals, health and hygiene kits, school supplies, and food and relief supplies. Earlier this month, IRD distributed a large shipment of materials to needy communities in the Yogyakarta region of central Java, hard hit almost exactly one year ago by a devastating earthquake. Below is a short interview with IRD health program officer Dawn Greensides, who traveled to Indonesia to help monitor distribution of in-kind donations in the region.

Q. If you could, please describe what was sent to Yogyakarta, and who donated the goods to IRD. It is difficult to imagine the process of collecting and shipping so many commodities!

A. We are grateful to International Medical Equipment Collaborative (IMEC) for their generous donation. Hundreds of people who suffered from the earthquake now are able to receive better medical care and have a better learning experience because of IMEC. And of course, the young children in the kindergartens are happily playing with the many toys that were included in the shipment.

All the goods were shipped via ocean freight. They arrived on May 22 and were cleared of customs and ready for distribution by June 5.

Q. What was in the shipment?

A. It was very large! There were at least 100 huge boxes of toys, including a big box of teddy bears, plus 50 computers, 57 student desks, 48 chairs and 21 tables, filing cabinets, bulletin boards and meeting tables. Not only that, there were hundreds packages of brand new medical supplies and equipment.

Q. How do you decide who gets the commodities?

A. We work together with the local government authorities to determine the places that need our donations the most. We are currently implementing a grant from UNICEF in the Jogjakarta area so the commodities we distributed complimented the activities we conduct for UNICEF. 

The earthquake had a devastating impact on the community. Many schools and health clinics had to be evacuated and condemned because the earthquake made them unsafe. UNICEF asked IRD to provide clean water and sanitation facilities in temporary schools and clinics.

Q. Were all the donations in good shape?

A. Considering the commodities had traveled by boat for several months, all the goods were in surprisingly good shape. However, four of the computers had to be fixed and some of the school desks, tables and chairs needed major repair.

The communities also contributed. We brought teachers from several elementary schools to see the furniture while it was still in the warehouse. One school jumped at the chance to get the furniture because there was no furniture at all in any of the school’s classrooms; all the children sat on the floor to study. The school was delighted to receive the furniture even though it needed repairs. The teachers, parents and students all chipped in to sand down and repaint the furniture. They now have a completely furnished series of classrooms and they did it together as a community.

Q. What kind of medical supplies did you receive? Where did you distribute them?

A. We received all kind of supplies, from hypodermic needles and other surgical materials to bandages, pharmaceuticals and blankets.  All of the goods were brand new and in excellent condition. We were able to distribute these materials to two hospitals and 14 public health centers.

Q. How many schools did you distribute supplies to?

A. We distributed to six kindergartens and 40 elementary schools. It really was so rewarding to know that these children and their families would benefit from the goods we were able to donate.