Photo courtesy of IOM volunteer George Young 2009©

This week 308 IOM trucks have transported over 1,000 tonnes of food and non-food relief items to earthquake survivors in West Sumatra.

Two thirds of the cargo, which came from 49 different aid agencies and the government, was rice destined for earthquake-affected areas suffering food shortages.

Other loads included desperately needed shelter items for people made homeless by the September 30th quake, which severely damaged some 135,000 houses in the remote region.

IOM’s Padang logistics hub is also working closely with hospitals in Padang, Pariaman and Agam districts, and the Indonesian military’s offshore floating hospital, to provide transport for patients and their families wanting to return home after medical treatment.

“This service helps patients to recover faster, as they don’t need to be concerned about getting home or receiving follow up treatment, as IOM has committed to help them as needed,” says Colonel Dr. Arie Zakaria of the Dr Soeharto Hospital Ship.

Four hospitals, 12 community health centers and ten health posts were damaged by the quake, which killed at least 809 people and left thousands injured.

IOM’s response to the West Sumatra earthquake is funded by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO.)