Snapshot*

Population – 237.5 million
Internally displaced persons – 250,000**
Life expectancy –70.5 years old
Median age – 27 years old
Infant mortality rate – 31 deaths for every 1,000 live births
Fertility rate – 2.3 children per woman
HIV/AIDS rate – 0.1 percent
Infectious disease risk – High
Literacy rate – 90.4 percent

Life in Indonesia

Teetering on top of the Ring of Fire, Indonesia is located on a geological hotspot that makes its population incredibly vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tidal waves, and other natural disasters. The 13,000-island tropical archipelago was the worst-hit country by the 2004 tsunami. Of the 220,000 people who were killed, Indonesia claimed an estimated 160,000 of those deaths. Even before this tragic event, Indonesia faced social and economic turmoil, as some of its provinces fought for independence, and numerous terrorist bombings forced tens of thousands from their homes.

In the midst of recovering from the devastating disasters, Indonesia faces high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality. While Indonesia has the fourth highest child population in the world, basic care is often overlooked, leaving mothers and babies highly susceptible to infectious disease, malnutrition, and potentially fatal complications during pregnancy or labor.

Helping Communities Help Themselves

Bringing Relief
International Medical Corps is one of the few organizations to service Indonesia before, during, and after the tsunami.  International Medical Corps was one of the first to respond the tsunami and one of only a few organizations to stay after the emergency phase to help Indonesians prepare for future disasters. Its post-tsunami programs include:

    * Primary health care
    * Secondary health care, including surgery
    * Maternal and child care
    * Expanded immunization
    * Health and hygiene promotion
    * Agricultural livelihoods
    * Water and Sanitation
    * Emergency preparedness and response


International Medical Corps works to rebuild some of Indonesia’s hardest hit health care systems by reequipping and rehabilitating village clinics, hospitals, and health care posts and building roads and bridges to improve access to these facilities. In addition to health care services, International Medical Corps is also working to reduce the threat of Avian and Pandemic Influenza in Indonesia by putting together a community-based booklet on the disease and its management. Indonesia has the highest number of deaths due to Avian influenza in the world.

Enabling Self-Reliance

To make its programming efforts sustainable, International Medical Corps’ programs train Indonesians to fulfill the following roles in their programs:

    * Traditional birth attendants – Help ensure referrals for clean, safe deliveries for mothers and their babies
    * Health care workers - Provide primary health care and maternal and child health care through International Medical Corps-supported health posts, mobile clinics, and health centers
    * Community health workers – Educate peers in basic health, such as preventable diseases, including nutrition and safe motherhood and referrals to the nearest health post
    * First responders – Train first responders to provide emergency life saving skills to prevent deaths during the critical hours during and after an emergency


With the support of the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) and U.S. Pacific Command, International Medical Corps and long-term local partner, Ambulan 118, have created a comprehensive emergency preparedness and response program in disaster-prone areas throughout Indonesia. The education program reaches out to all levels of disaster response, including: medical personnel, policemen, firemen, search and rescue teams, hospital administrators, community leaders and other critical parties.

In the training, International Medical Corps and Ambulan 118 also create full-scale disaster simulations to test participants in the curriculum. Through this effort, International Medical Corps, Ambulan 118, and the program supporters help Indonesian communities have a cohesive disaster response network in the event of an earthquake or other disaster, creating “Safe Communities”. More than 1,400 people across 10 provinces are now trained through this effort.

In a review of its initial tsunami and earthquake activities, International Medical Corps found remote areas to be in need of immediate support. To improve the health care services in disadvantaged, remote communities, International Medical Corps supported health facilities, promoted health and hygiene practices, and offered trainings to health staff in Aceh Jaya District. The program also provided maternal and child health and family planning education. In breastfeeding alone, survey results showed a 20 percent increase among mothers about the importance of breastfeeding in early child health.

You Can Help Build Change That Lasts

While nearly four years have passed since the tsunami, Indonesia still needs international support to stimulate its social and economic infrastructure. In a location prone to large-scale natural disasters, it is critical that Indonesia is fully prepared to respond and manage a wide variety of emergencies, while also providing sustainable care for vulnerable populations. Your generous contribution will help strengthen its emergency response and health care systems so that Indonesians have the support network they need in order to lead healthy lives. Help Indonesia and other International Medical Corps programs worldwide.


*Statistics from U.S. government
**Statistics from UNHCR