Association of Medical Doctors of ASIA, founded in 1984, Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC since 1995

Since early December, AMDA has been carrying out emergency response activities in Indonesia’s North Sumatra region which was devastated by the large-scale flooding. At the onset of the inundation, AMDA Indonesia was quick to respond to the disaster by sending a team of medical personnel to the affected areas, followed by a team of Japanese nurses joining the effort.
 
Two Japanese nurses arrived in Sumatra on 8 December and immediately joined AMDA Indonesia’s advance team to support the emergency response activities. The following day, on 9 December, the team split into two groups to conduct both relief supply distribution and medical assistance at one of the disaster sites. Access to the area was partially hindered by mudslides, which had closed half of the road lanes, though vehicles were still able to pass.
 
During the relief distribution, approximately 14 tons of drinking water and food supplies were delivered, including 750 kilograms of rice. The water supply was made possible through funds voluntarily raised by local medical students, who worked together to secure a water tanker for the affected communities.
 
At the same time, AMDA’s medical team provided care to around 50 patients. Many were suffering from stress-related gastroenteritis, external injuries, skin inflammations, and diabetes. Enteritis was particularly common among children, reflecting the deteriorating sanitary conditions following the floods.
 
On 10 December, the medical team moved to Aceh Tamiang Regency, Aceh, an area severely impacted by flooding. There, the team treated 30 patients, about one-third of whom had external injuries that had worsened due to delays in receiving medical treatment. Many cases of headaches, fever, and hypertension were seen among the patients, while stomachaches and diarrhea were prevalent among children. Malnutrition and disaster-related stress were also observed.
 
In some areas, power and water outages continued, while many homes had already been washed away. It is said that the communities along the river were struck by five-meter tides at the time of inundation. Local residents were seen clearing debris in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, expressing an urgent need for food and safe drinking water.
 
Relief activities continued the next day in Aceh Tamiang Regency as well. According to Indonesia’s disaster management authority (as of 11 December), approximately 252,600 people have been affected in the region with a total population of about 300,000, making it the hardest-hit area nationwide. On that day alone, AMDA’s team of nine personnel　(comprising three doctors, two nurses, and four medical students) treated around 50 patients suffering from respiratory problems caused by dusty air following the floods, external injuries, and skin diseases.
 
Although many residents had been forced to live in makeshift shelters, there were signs of recovery in the area, with temporary toilets being installed, the Indonesian military organizing clean-up efforts at hospitals, and emergency wards reopening with limited capacity.
 
On 13 December, AMDA expanded its activities to the two following locations in North Sumatra. The team was separated into two groups to conduct aid work in the respective locations:
 
1) In the morning, the “Team A” established a medical post in Aek Manis village in Sibolga City, which had remained isolated for some time following the disaster. Launched in collaboration with Universitas Muslim Indonesia (UMI) and other partners, the post became the first makeshift clinic in the area to provide medical assistance since the flooding. Symptoms such as colds, headaches, diarrhea, skin diseases, and hypertension, were observed among the patients. A total of 27 people including children and the elderly benefited from the services. An additional field survey was conducted in Tapanuli in the afternoon.
 
2) The “Team B” visited Kuala Simpang District in Aceh Tamiang. Some of the residents came to see a doctor for the first time after the flooding occurred. Among 40 or so patients were those suffering from sore throat, diarrhea, and external injuries.
 
Although the post-disaster reconstruction has been in progress, with makeshift tents and toilets being set up, health concerns have persisted due to worsened hygiene conditions in the environment where the foul smell of sludge has been filling the air.
 
“Nights are still tough, but I am relieved that the aid has finally arrived,” one of the residents commented. For the time being, AMDA will continue working in the region.