Dear [[FirstName]],

It has been two and a half years since the deadliest natural disaster in modern times struck the coast of Indonesia. While much progress has been made, the rehabilitation is far from complete. It is more than roads, houses, and schools that need repair: the lives of people must be restored. Ordinary people like you and me who have the distinction of enduring unbelievable hardships.

Through life-saving medical care, specialized mental health treatment, provision of clean water, and community education, IMC’s staff is making a serious difference in the lives of thousands.

Now is not the time to forget those recovering from the tsunami, but to get back in touch with their struggles, many of which were pre-existing. With your support we can continue to help restore the dignity of the Acehnese people and give them the assistance they need to fight back and recreate their lives.

Sincerely,

Ian McArthur
IMC Country Director, Indonesia

Reaching Remote Communities through Radio
As part of its effort to help tsunami-affected communities in Aceh get back on their feet, IMC hosts a weekly live radio show to educate villagers about their health. Some of the topics emerge from the issues seen by IMC staff working in local villages. But the heart of the program comes from the questions posed by listeners. Read more

IMC Restores Water Service to Decimated Southern Lebanon Towns
During last summer’s war with Israel, rockets and bombs damaged water towers in six villages throughout southern Lebanon, disrupting water service to more than 17,000 people. With IMC’s help, water is once again flowing in five of the villages, including Braachit, which was particularly hard hit in the conflict. Read more

Father of Eight Finds Relief Through Employment with IMC
Tony Oyat is one of the thousands of Ugandans whose life was shattered by the Lord’s Resistance Army. His brother was killed when they attacked his village; Tony took in his children, and fled to a camp for the displaced, where he struggled for years to support his expanded family. Finding employment as a day guard for IMC has helped alleviate some of his worries. But he is well-aware that new challenges lie ahead. Read more

IMC’s Work Featured at the Global Health Council Conference
International Medical Corps staff members led roundtable discussions on three critical IMC projects at the 2007 Global Health Council conference, one of the most important annual gatherings of professionals devoted to saving lives by improving health throughout the world. Boris Budosan, mental health specialist, spoke about the mental health program IMC launched to help traumatized survivors of the tsunami in Sri Lanka. Sonia Walia, IMC desk officer, talked about the antenatal care provided to women in Sri Lanka in mobile clinics post-tsunami; and Ryan Larrance, senior research associate, discussed the findings of an IMC mental health study conducted in FEMA travel-trailer parks in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
 
International Medical Corps is also pleased to announce that top prize for the 2007 Global Health Council photography contest went to Julie Pudlowski, whose award-winning photograph was taken at IMC's outpatient nutritional therapy program in Ethiopia. Her photograph was displayed at the conference, along with some of Julie’s other photos of IMC’s work in Ethiopia. Click here to see a small sampling of her work.