Terrorists won't stop volunteer nurse

Judy Owen has had a long career with the Red Cross and is excited about the challenge that awaits her in Indonesia. Picture / Paul Estcourt

Auckland Red Cross worker Judy Owen is expecting a call from one of her brothers any day now as she gets ready to travel to Indonesia next week.

Ms Owen, a registered nurse, said the latest terrorist alert would only add to their concerns about her passion for humanitarian work in the world's trouble spots.

"They do their best to tie me to the ground ... the world's changing rapidly."

But she is philosophical about her work for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which she has done regularly for more than 20 years.

She has confidence in the organisation, which has the mandate of international humanitarian law to work in conflict situations.

"I have a great deal of respect for the ICRC. It is very, very experienced and security is paramount for its workers. If you can't go out to do field work in a village because it's not safe then you just don't do the work."

Ms Owen will be travelling to the town of Lhokseumawe, just south-east of Banda Aceh.

She said the Red Cross had been in Banda Aceh for at least the last decade during its chronic conflict.

The terrorism warnings were a concern but "also just a reminder of the nature of work I do".

Ms Owen returned from north Uganda only six weeks ago, where the Red Cross security rules were basically the same.

"It is quite amazing what you can achieve within the restrictions."

She had had "one or two security incidents" in her years with the Red Cross but did not want to discuss them.

It was important to be culturally sensitive as a Westerner in a place such as Indonesia, which was a moderate, Muslim country, and she adhered to cultural norms such as being discreet with her appearance.

Ms Owen will be briefed in Wellington before she leaves and de-briefed on her return.

She will spend six weeks in Indonesia and come home for a short break before returning for a likely six-month contract.

In between her contracts she picks up nursing work in Auckland. She does not work as a clinical nurse overseas but sets up health programmes. "I also have a master's degree in public health ... it is quite useful when you are dealing with thousands who are without food and water."

Ms Owen said she had always had a strong interest in tropical health and was intrigued by international affairs, so working for the Red Cross was a "wonderful opportunity" to merge the two.

She spent a year in Indonesia about four years ago, working in the Molucca Islands where there was conflict between Christians and Muslims.

Ms Owen said the Red Cross worked on a number of principles including humanity, impartiality and neutrality.

"It enables the Red Cross to be transparent, no secrets."

New Zealand Red Cross operations manager Andrew McKie, who returned from Jakarta on Sunday, said morale was good.

He said that after the publicity about possible terror attacks the two New Zealand nurses working in a Red Cross 100-bed field hospital in Banda Aceh had been in touch to say they were feeling fine.

Marion Picken from Wellington was due to return next week and Colleen Clarke from Taupo was staying until mid-May.

"They are very experienced. They have worked in Afghanistan and the Sudan and are used to these situations."

Mr McKie said the Red Cross had good relations with the locals who were educated about the organisation, and robust security was in place, including working and living arrangements and an after-hours curfew.