Oxfam Cymru's Craig Owen is Communications Manager for Oxfam's Tsunami response in Aceh, Indonesia until May. Craig’s regular blog will tell us about Oxfam's work in the region and how this has helped more than 1.8 million people in seven countries to start rebuilding their lives. http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/images/blog_rss_img.png http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig By Tuesday, other aid organisations have started to arrive in Yogya with supplies. By Friday 40 have set up in the area. Co-ordination is... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/single.php?id=694 On Saturday afternoon, the Yogya teams return 'from the field'. They are harrowed and gaunt. I realise this is going to be bad news, maybe very... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/single.php?id=692 "We have been able to distribute thousands of tarpaulins for emergency shelter and distribute hygiene kits to in the immediate aftermath of the crisis. However... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/single.php?id=691 Oxfam's emergency teams continue to work around the clock to deliver clean water and essential supplies to thousands of people made homeless by the Yogyakarta earthquake... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/single.php?id=690 Oxfam’s emergency teams are working around the clock to bring clean drinking water and essential supplies to thousands of people made homeless by the Yogyakarta earthquake... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/single.php?id=689 So much that I want to be able to say. Where to start?... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/single.php?id=688 A powerful earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale struck Central Java near the city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia at 5:54 am local time Saturday 26 May... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/single.php?id=687 “The juddering went on for a minute” said Ari. “It stopped – and then we heard the screams.”... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/single.php?id=686 Oxfam are co-ordinating with other NGOs, and with the government reconstruction agency (the BRR) to complete provision of... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/single.php?id=685 I’ve been hoping for and looking forward to this moment ever since I first heard I’d be going to Aceh. In fact, I guess... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/single.php?id=684 It has to be said – and it only fully hit me when I got to Indonesia – the Welsh really don’t travel much. With the notable exception of Gran Canaria... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/single.php?id=682 This Thursday started as a perfectly normal, hectic day with the usual ‘to do’ list as long as the Magna Carta. One of the items is to attend the UN’s... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/single.php?id=681 Ari is now 11, he was 9 when the Tsunami struck on Dec 26th 2004 (when the 'after the wave' picture was taken) Rahmat is now 7, he was 5 when the Tsunami struck on Dec 26th 2004... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/single.php?id=680 Sixty drivers in the capital city of Banda Aceh have received a new becak, a three-wheeler... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/single.php?id=678 Oxfam has repaired approximately 21 km of road and built or repaired 10 bridges in... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/single.php?id=677 As in many villages across Aceh, more women than men died in the roadside village of Lampaya, less than an... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/single.php?id=676 It is no coincidence that the G8 Summit of World Leaders in 2005 was... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/single.php?id=675 n 13 April 2006, as a pale sun rises over the Severn Estuary, the awakening city of Cardiff... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogtwentytwo.htm Jakarta, Gambir station, 09.00: The Parahyangan Express stands expectantly at the platform, bustled and hustled around by guards... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogtwentyone.htm Well what a weekend rears. After another hectic and very productive week in Banda, Friday is... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogtwenty.htm Wake up, stumble to bathroom, pour busket of water over head... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blognineteen.htm Today's is just a very brief update, having arrived back in Banda Aceh yesterday. I have been on leave for a couple of weeks, visiting my family and doing... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogeighteen.htm Craig is on travels in New Zealand and hopes to update us with his exploits on his return! http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogseventeen.htm The last story was deliberately confrontational in its illustration of down-to-earth challenges and humanity that humanitarian workers have to... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogsixteen.htm I promised some friends that with my diary, I would try not to shy away from some of the difficult issues here in Aceh; to paint a picture deeper and texturally richer... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogfifteen.htm So how am I getting on personally? How is the experience of life and work in this extraordinary place, panning out over here? http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogfourteen.htm Today I found a presentation on the shared drive in the office. The only words: "My Beautiful Village." http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogthirteen.htm I'm definitely going to have to include more 'to be continued' cliffhangers with my update e-mails. I've had more responses to 'return for my first earthquake' sign off than any of the last 3 weeks! http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogtwelve.htm One of the things I'm finding really fascinating here is the sheer challenge of some of the issues we're trying to balance. One of the first media queries I was involved in handling last week was... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogeleven.htm On Sunday morning I decide to pop out for a twenty minute walk around my block. To my discredit as a supposed geographer, I return two and a... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogten.htm Before I left for Aceh, I had become quite familiar with the phrase (and it's inherent expectation) of “hitting the ground running.” By Friday I had experienced a... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blognine.htm A few people have asked. So here it is, upfront - the programme I am managing http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogeight.htm Let me take you for a walk down my street, and through my day. http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogseven.htm Last night we had a send-off party for Doug, our International Media Officer over the last 3 months in Aceh and Nias, who brought the... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogsix.htm I've been warned of the dangers of getting sucked into 'head office' work already, and so determine to get out as quickly as possible. Tuesday afternoon, I travel with Doug and Sofie, who works on donor reporting, to Aceh Besar, the nearest operational... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogfive.htm My New Definition for 'Hitting the Ground Running'...! http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogfour.htm A few brief thoughts at the end of my first day in Banda. http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogthree.htm I promised before I left Cardiff to write a brief blog as soon as I arrived in Aceh... to capture first impressions, first feelings of arriving. http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogtwo.htm I didn't expect to start my blog in transit. In fact, I didn't expect to be in the centre of Singapore in transit. But faced with a choice of 12 hours trying to kip in the airport, or an hours journey each way into the city and a night in a bed... http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig/blogone.htm Craig's Weblog has now been updated (15/4/06). Craig welcomes your questions or comments which can be sent to: CraigBlog@cardiffOxfamGroup.org.uk http://www.cardiffoxfamgroup.org.uk/craig