Sometimes tough luck finds you twice and you will feel every confidence and strength in life just slip away from your vein. A small gesture of solidarity or helping hands reached out to you might help you carry on and get away from the abyss of despair. This is a part of the reasons why human beings are supposed to live together caring for each other. The Korean Medical Association (KMA) sent the Korean Emergency Medical Aid Team (KEMAT) to Indonesia on June 1, 2006, just five days after the quake hit Indonesia. As before, the KMA dispatched a staff (Mr. Il Hyeon Park) of its secretariat one day earlier the team left, for handling logistics in cooperation with the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI). This was the second joint relief activity of two associations following to the joint activity for the injured in Tsunami disaster in January 2005. The cooperation between two associations became more systematic and customized and we would like to express our gratitude to Prof. DR. Dr. Farid A. Moeloek, the President of IDI and Dr. Adam, the Chairman of IDI Yogyakarta Regional Office for his excellence and cooperative job.

The team is composed of 1 orthopedic surgeon, 1 cardiovascular surgeon, 2 general surgeons, 1 GP, 4 nurses, 4 administrative staff, 2 reporters and 3 interpreters and they set their base camp at the Happyland Hospital in Yogyakarta. This hospital is run by a Korean businessman and his Indonesian wife who is a medical doctor. The situation in Yogyakarta and Bantul, one of the most severely hit areas, was relatively endurable than originally expected, as medical professionals around the globe were rushed into those areas and the Indonesian Government mobilized medical professionals across the nation to treat those injured in quake-affected areas more efficiently. The KEMAT hence decided to divide its team members into 3 units, one providing medical cares at the base camp and the others mobilizing into remote areas, where hands of medical professionals have not yet reached out. The regional governmental office of Yogyakarta asked the KEMAT through Korean community there to treat patients in the area called Tegaltirto. The KEMAT treated approximately 600 patients (150 patients a day on average) for four days. As most severely injured people found medical care to some extent, most of patients who were taken care of by the KEMAT were in need of orthopedic treatments or were suffering from psychological problems due to a shock from the quake. After providing medical treatments for four days, the KEMAT left the area earlier than planned, as the lack in medical professionals have been relieved by large.

Although Indonesia was drawn into disaster twice, we saw hope this time resulting from better coordination, arrangements and immediate responses.

Members of the KEMAT