The ICRC first established a presence in Indonesia in 1979.

The ICRC and the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) were among the first organizations to respond to the emergency caused by the tsunami in December 2004. However, the ICRC has now returned to more traditional activities related to conflict and post-conflict situations.

The armed conflict in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalem has had serious humanitarian consequences on the population, destroying livelihoods and local infrastructure related to health-care services, sanitation and water supplies. Following the signing in spring 2005 of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Indonesian Government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), the ICRC has been assisting returnees and residents to start the recovery process. It is rehabilitating wells and latrines, helping to rebuild damaged homes, providing agricultural tools, seeds and fertilizers to farmers, supporting health care facilities and rebuilding transport infrastructures.

The ICRC continues to visit detainees held in connection with the conflict as well as to work to broaden the acceptance of international humanitarian law (IHL) among the armed forces, police and academic circles.


Presence (2009): 105 staff, including 17 expatriates