Unions provide health and engineering assistance in Aceh

"Unionists in Australia can be very proud of the work they are assisting through Indonesian trade unions to help the victims of the tsunami in Aceh" said Peter Jennings, the Executive Officer of Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA upon his return yesterday from a 10-day visit to Aceh.

Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA, the overseas aid arm of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, is assisting the Indonesian branch of the International Union of Foodworkers, the Global Union Federation which links unions representing workers in all aspects of food and agricultural production. The IUF - Indonesia has now sent three teams comprising volunteer Indonesian doctors, nurses, paramedics and engineers from IUF affiliated unions to Meulaboh, formerly a city of 78,000 people on the west coast of Aceh, to assist those affected by the tsunami. Each team of approximately 10 volunteers has served there for two weeks.

The Indonesian doctors and paramedics with the IUF team have focused their efforts on the region south of Meulaboh where many of the people are contract or casual workers for palm oil plantations.

"The trade union movement can be justifiably proud of the excellent work done by these volunteers with the IUF. The medical teams have provided essential emergency health services such as treating wounds and cuts and inoculating for cholera, typhoid and tetanus, as well as providing a free general health service and advice to the people for perhaps the first time in their lives" Mr Jennings said.

... read more at APHEDA