General information

About the mission

Launch date: 1997
Local staff : 41
Expatriates : 3

Action Against Hunger is implementing programmes in:

Jakarta

NTT Region

Key facts

Population: 240 million inhabitants
Human Development Index : Ranking 109 out of 177

Humanitarian context

Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago, with more than 13,600 islands (almost half of which are inhabited) covering an area of more than 5,000 km from east to west. It is also one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with over 230 million inhabitants. It has experienced years of authoritarian rule, with the army playing a significant political role. For some years now, the country has been on road towards change, but there are still alarming social and economic disparities within the population.

Recent events, such as the first election by universal suffrage of the governor of Jakarta, the strengthening of the fight against corruption and the multiparty system, show that Indonesia's institutions are moving towards democracy. Economic indicators also demonstrate the current dynamism of Indonesia's economy.

However, behind this promising picture, there are numerous socio-economic challenges which remain unsolved. From a political point of view, corruption and bureaucracy are rife among the administrative and governmental authorities. In terms of the economy, only a small portion of the population enjoys the apparent prosperity. With this dual-speed development, the proportion of Indonesians living below the poverty line has increased in recent years, reaching 18% of the population in 2007, according to the central bureau of statistics. This is linked, among other factors, to the price inflation of basic foodstuffs (such as rice) caused by the rise in fuel prices and speculation over the increased cost of transport.

This not only affects poverty within the cities but also throughout the archipelago's isolated islands. In the city of Jakarta, the most vulnerable people live in precarious conditions and in areas often liable to flooding. People living on the islands furthest from Java, such as West Timor, face chronic poverty: isolated from the country's hub, they do not benefit from any economic opportunities, and state support is increasingly poor (lack of infrastructure and investment, poor access to health centres, etc.). The population of West Timor is therefore facing a critical nutritional situation: according to a study carried out in December 2007, the level of acute malnutrition is 11%, with peaks of over 15% of the population in certain districts.

Furthermore, the archipelago is extremely vulnerable to natural disasters (tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes) and to changes in climate in general. Between September 2005 and September 2007, the country experienced 40 high magnitude earthquakes, three of which caused many deaths and much destruction.  In addition, in one year, five severe floods have affected more than 1 million people in total. Natural disasters seriously threaten the population’s food security, access to water and level of hygiene.

Action Against Hunger in Indonesia

Action Against Hunger has been present in Indonesia since May 1998 to set up programmes in water and sanitation, and nutritional monitoring. In April 1999, new activities were launched following an increase of violence which caused large-scale internal displacements of people. As the conflict spread throughout the country, other Action Against Hunger bases opened enabling the launch of nutritional aid, agricultural and water and sanitation development programmes. From 1999 to 2004, Action Against Hunger helped 200,000 people. In 2004, Action Against Hunger responded  to the tsunami crisis in Aceh province.

Currently, Action Against Hunger’s actions are concentrated on disaster prevention in Jakarta.  In addition, a new base was opened on the island of Timor in July 2007, where food security and water and sanitation programmes are currently in operation.

NTT region, West Timor

Water and sanitation

• Construction and renovation of water points

Food Security

• Distribution of seeds and tools
• Farming projects and income-generating activities set up
• "Cash for work" project

Jakarta

Preparation for potential disasters

• Gathering information on natural disasters and monitoring the situation in vulnerable areas
• Increasing the capacity of those living in Jakarta's poor districts to deal with floods by developing their responses, as well as those of the organisations in charge of disaster management
• Creation of an emergency stock enabling quick intervention in the event of a natural disaster

Funding

Private donations

ECHO, UNICEF, AQUA, AECID (Spanish Cooperation)