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News Summary
Conditions/Situations in Aceh
Civil Society Coalition for Earthquake-Tsunami Survivors
In Aceh and North Sumatera
13 January 2005, 20:00
In Calang region, Aceh Jaya, there is no sign for infrastructure renovation, in particular the transportation route. Clean water aid from UI Technique Faculty had to be delayed due to that closure. There are speed boats willing to take it from Ulee Lhe harbor, Banda Aceh, yet asking for charter cost as much as Rp 30 million, and Rp 100.000 each for the passenger (non charter). The costly transportation fees are also delaying the dispatch of many kind of the refugees needs. Even though such was the case, Forum LSM in Banda Aceh will start sending volunteers carrying staple food goods, using 120 ton powered “Sumber Rejeki”. Craftsmanship tools like nails, iron sheeting, hammers and saws are needed as well
It is important to know that Calang, with 90% devastation, has only 1 volunteer post. Therefore data about refugees and their location aren’t clear yet. To build the post and its sanitation involved approximately 17 refugees. There are also refugees who built tents in the mountain. At the moment they need tools to build barracks, staple food goods (rice, salty fish, cooking oil, kerosene, and sugar), medical tools and medicine along with competent volunteer for counseling.
In Teunom district, Aceh Jaya, there are 4,000 refugees originally from west coastal area. One of the village in Teunom, Pasi village is still surrounded with water such that it is now an island, with 500 family heads. There are 200 children under 5 years old among them 50 pregnant mothers. The heavily injured refugees have been evacuated to Medan and Banda Aceh (15 persons). At the moment they need sanitation, sanitation unit, clean water (the water is muddy because of the swampy area), tents, staple food goods, cooking equipment, and lights. It is important to know that there are many refugees having to use local inhabitants’ sanitation units or are going to the forest to defecate. Some refugees had to stay at local houses because their shelters are only plastic tents and iron sheeting. Logistics of the locals is being depleted, such that refugees are giving their rice to them.
The Post in STM building, Johan Pahlawan District in Meulaboh accommodates about 7,000 refugees. Many are experiencing injury and afflicted with diarrhea, cough, cold, headache, difficulty breathing, and fever. They need staple food goods (rice, sugar, cooking oil, kerosene, and lauk-pauk(meat side dish), medicine and baby food, clothes, prayer accessories, bath equipment and sanitary napkins. A plan has been made to open a new post outside of the STM building and relocate the refugees to West Aceh (approximately 6 km from Meulaboh). But lack of volunteers who are willing to manage the refugee camp became an obstacle for the plan to be carried out. Complicating the matter even more, SATKORLAK bureaucracy hampers the aid distribution to the post, because all posts have to be under its coordination.
Communication means in Meulaboh have not yet recovered until today, even though Telkomsel has began operating. Communication-information line is used through Tapak Tuan, South Aceh. There are many corpses and ruins found along the way.
Corpses are sprawled along the Lambaro River, Banda Aceh, but there is already a temporary housing plan for the refugees for 1 year in this territory.
The refugee post outside TVRI building needs men and women prayer accessories, the Holy Qur’an, feminine sanitary napkins, and women’s underwear. This post accommodates 2,000 people, where 100 are children. There are not enough sanitary units and they request for more. Generally, they experienced injury in the event of earthquake-tsunami. It is reported that Dompet Dhuafa will help the construction of those sanitary units.
In refugee post in Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, about 2,500 people need women underwear and clothes. Until today there are 10 dozen clothes accepted, but the amount isn’t enough. It is estimated that the refugees in this post will stay between 6 months – 1 year.
Lamno post, Aceh Besar, accommodates 200 refugees, in need of kerosene, sugar, rice, eggs, cooking oil, underwear and feminine sanitary napkins (softex, etc). Medicines are also needed because their health is getting worse where cold, diarrhea, coughing, and vomiting are common. There is not any sufficient sanitary unit.
Today, there are no refugees left in Bandara Iskandar Muda post at Aceh Besar, although there are about 20 volunteers still provided there.
Koramil (Military Resort Command) and PMI post in Lamting village, Pulai Nasi, Aceh Besar, need men's and women’s underwear, staple food goods, boots and gloves, medicines, sleeping equipment (in particular blankets), cooking oils, and clean water. These posts accommodate about 826 people originating from Lamting village, Ra’bo village, and Alo Riung village. Meanwhile, the other inhabitants from the other 14 villages have been evacuated to Banda Aceh.
Baiturahman post in Banda Aceh needs boots, masks, and gloves. The transportation route to the post is now 70% operational.
There are 60 points of evacuation in Sigli district, Pidie regency, which need clean water and staple food goods (rice, side dish, cooking oil and kerosene, sugar). The post operates as a refugee shelter (to transit to other places), and also as a distributor of aid to those evacuation points.
The health of the refugees, especially children, in Meuliek village, Samalanga district, Bireun is getting worse. Many children are getting sick, while the adults are having difficulty in breathing properly. In addition, the sanitation means is bad where sanitation units don’t meet the needs. Staple food goods (sugar, rice, cooking oil and kerosene, side dish), medicines, prayers accessories, baby milk, sleeping equipment (blanket), and women’s outfits (underwear and softex) are needed.
A post in Krueng Mane, Aceh Utara, needs school equipment (uniform and books), physicians, and counselors/psychologists, and vitamins for children. The supply of food is getting thin in the post, since it is also distributed to Meulaboh. It received 5-6 tons of logistic yesterday, but it has not been distributed yet to the other posts. The evacuation points and numbers have not been able to be recorded precisely up to now. Their health is getting worse and the sanitation units are insufficient.
There are about 300 refugees living in their family’s houses (non camp) in Tualam village, Gunung Meriah district, Aceh Singkil. The problem is their families are also in a poor financial condition. Approximately 25 locals are willing to volunteer in accommodating the refugees. They need staple food goods (rice, side dish, cooking oil, kerosene, and sugar).
According to today’s statistics, there are 107 new refugees in Sabussalam post, Aceh Singkil, where most of them are injured. Part of the refugees who once lived in the post have gone to their family houses in Penanggalam and Runding district. They have received 1 sack of rice, 2 boxes of Indomie, and Rp.100 thousand cash. Cash, cooking oil, clothes, and prayer accessories are still needed at the moment. Clean water and sanitation units are now sufficiently provided. It has been recorded that 16 houses are damaged in the coast of Subulussalam, and 60 more houses in Pulau Banyak.
In addition to the direct information from respondents/informants in the filed, following are important points sent from transit posts in Jakarta, Medan, and Aceh:
- Delivery of Logistics from transit posts are not fulfilling needs. For example: PPC Aceh delivered food products but mainly consisting of biscuits, while the refugees need rice, cooking oil, salted fish, salt and sugar. In Lhokseumawe many clothes have been received, but no underwear for women or children. Infant needs such as milk and baby food are also lacking in the form of donations. Refugees in the foothills of Aceh Besar dearly need Muslim women’s wear, underwear, and sanitary napkins; however, most of the clothing received has been for men.
- In Laweung Pidie, Military forces forcibly combined two refugee points into one for the reason of facilitation of delivering aid, however, methods used were not humane.
- Receipt of rice from the Logistic Depot by residents and refugees is difficult due to complicated bureaucracy, such as the need for authorization from the Lurah (Village chief), Camat (Sub-district head) and Bupati (District Head). Under current disaster conditions, the Distict Head and Sub-District Head are difficult to meet.
- Indonesian military are conducting identity inspections of citizens desiring to transfer to North Sumatera (i.e., Medan). Refugees without identity, who are attempting to leave NAD, are directed to return to Aceh.
- Conditions at relief post Luengputu, Sigli, are severely concerning. Relief Post located in the New Gor area has 850 people, 150 of them children. They have only eaten instant noodles for the past two weeks. Rice, eggs, milk and medical aid (doctors, nurses and medicine) are dearly needed. They beg that the Walhi relief post and those posts that are closest immediately offer them humanitarian aid.
- Alternative education processes, operated by several organizations, have gained attention from the government. GIVE A HAND for Aceh, Jakarta chapter, was invited today by the National Department of Education to offer input regarding handling education for children refugees in Aceh together with Indonesia Cares. There are thoughts to expand alternative education to include High Schools (previously education was only focused on Elementary and Junior High, in the form of counseling for recovery from trauma or shock). Today Sigli officialized regular education that will be conducted by 3 teachers. Each teacher will assist 20 students. At this time there are 20 teachers available from outside of Aceh, aside from the existing local teachers. Approximately 100 children and 40 teenagers are accommodated by emergency education, where the learning proses is in the form of games and accompaniment for children. There is still difficulty offering assistance for teenagers. Volunteers are trying to design a more appropriate method for the teenagers, with Relief Post University Indonesia sending several UI alumni psychologists, at the same time transferring methods and knowledge to volunteers from Unsyiah.
Recommendation/Action Alert
1. Primary Needs of refugees/disaster survivors
- Floods surrounding the village of Pasi, Tenoum, Aceh Jaya requires immediate attention so that 500 families receive food supplies, medicine and other aid.
- Request the government to afford cheap transportation to Calang, to facilitate the flow of aid to this isolated area.
- Staple food supplies (rice, sugar, salt, cooking oil and kerosene and meat (lauk-pauk) remain priority of aid delivered to several regions in Aceh and NOT biscuits and instant noodles.
- Medicine and medical personnel, including an assessment of potential wide spread epidemic is also a main priority to be conducted for the refugees in Aceh. Imminent needs include Meulaboh, Aceh Barat, and in several other refugee locations such as Meuliek, sub-district Samalanga, Bireun, Sigli, and even Banda Aceh.
- Fulfilling women’s needs such as muslim apparel, female underwear, and sanitary napkins need more serious thought. Many of the managers of the posts are males, such that specific female needs are not clearly understood.
- Residents that have received refugees and that have assisted refugees at the refugee sites need to be given food because these simple people have begun to run out of available food stock.
2. Volunteers
The 20 volunteers at relief post Bandara Iskandar Muda, which refugees have already vacated, be distributed to other posts that have less volunteers, specifically in Aceh Jaya and Meulaboh.
3. Need for Coordination of Emergency Work
Urge the field coordinating unit in Meulaboh and Dolog to cut extensive bureaucracy to speed up and simplify distribution of aid to several humanitarian aid.
Assembled by YAPPIKA - Civil Society Alliance for Democracy
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Source: KontraS Investigation Report ~ Ad Interim
Date: 14 Jan 2005
Field Report on IDPs Condition
Sigli
Volunteer in Sigli report, the situation of Internally Displaced Peoples or IDPs post Lambase still in poor condition as well as many other coastal areas posts (poskos) which still hasn't received any aid. On January 12th, 2005 from direct field monitoring, KontraS calculated about 850 IDPs in Lampase, including 150 children. Today they also received instant noodle aid only from local government. The IDPs had been concentrated in Sub-District Office moving from a sport hall (Gor Raya).
Banda Aceh
Every aid that arrived in Banda Aceh will be gathered within the airport or Lanud Iskandar Muda and for every request to distribute the aid by the volunteers or the community should be cut as much as 15% from total. It is not yet clear on the reason for 15% cutting of every aid in the Iskandar Muda airport.
IDPs camp in the local TVRI station is the biggest camp resided by civil servants IDPs. On logistic, this camp had sufficient logistic. This is different compare to other camps who still having lack of aid problems.
There are many IDPs from Meulaboh, Calang and other west coast area IDPs that arrived in Banda Aceh. Some of the people who hadn't been the victims of the disaster for instance in Kecamatan Ule Kareng had also moved to IDPs post in Banda Aceh. We haven't got any in-depth investigation on why they join the IDPs.
It is also reported from the field about many death bodies found hadn't been evacuated because they're piled under the pile of ruins in the city. Evacuation was only concentrated with the main roads of Banda Aceh city. Lately there are about 180 bodies that had been buried within the area of Lambaro, or Blang Blintang street in Banda Aceh. Realizing this fact, it is urgently needed many volunteers to evacuate the bodies.
Medan
On January 7th 2005, Kepling (head of sub-village, Red) X Kelurahan Sumber Mukioreja, Kecamatan (sub-district) Binjai Timur, had been arrested for one night for keeping a pile of IDPs aids in his house. After one arrest, he's released from a request by the Binjai Major (Mr HM Ali Umri, head of Golkar party there) with reasons that his act was within his approval and knowledge. Further he said, to distribute this basic needs for IDPs as soon as possible, because they didn't have enough storage unit. To avoid rains, they distributed the aid to other needed community (Resource: Sumut Pos, Sabtu, 08 Januari 2005, page 8) .
Condition and situation of Aceh related to the Civil Emergency Status
Every soldiers from military or TNI and polices or Polri deployed to Aceh had been fully equipped with long rifles. Information gathered by KontraS from Kesdam Iskandar Muda, there were two officers from Kopassus (Special Force) who had been shot and one of them died. They have been dropped by the Rider 600 to Rumkit area. On the way to Sigli, you could also meet many fully alert soldiers from TNI and Polri beneath the path ways to Selawah mountains. From this investigation on the death of the Kopassus member and one wounded, this event happened on the area of Lepung about 25 Kms away of Banda Aceh city towards Meulaboh (Aceh Besar district). There's still no further details of this occasion.
Other condition occurred, there has been clashes between a military provost of Iskandar Muda (Kopda Juned) with some police apparatus who examined vehicles papers or license passes by in Banda Aceh. Short chronology explain that, a police officer give a ticket to a civilian motorbike owner who didn't own any license, then police took this motorbike to an unknown spot, while the owner of this motorbike is the family of Kopda Juned the member of Provost Iskandar Muda.
It is reported that there has been shots toward civilian by the apparatus in the area of Tangse Pidie (there has been no report whatsoever about the identity and which unit these apparatus came from).
Condition of Political Prisoners
Banda Aceh
Banda Aceh had 3 Rehabilitation Institution which all of the had been knocked down by the earthquake and tsunami waves. Those rehab place are, LP Lhoknga, LP Keudah and LP Lamprit toward Darussalam area. The condition of many of their prisoners still unclear and their existence unknown, but many of them are estimated died by the disaster.
Aceh Besar
In Aceh Besar there is one Rehabilitation Institution or LP, 45 of the prisoners escaped with details: 26 of them political prisoners and 19 ordinary prisoners. This LP hadn't been affected by the disaster but the prisoners escaped on December 29th 2004. Before this happened, the prisoners had asked for release to visit the families after the disaster, but was rejected. They finally escaped using their clothes as rope and broke out from the bars. At this moment, some of the prisoners had surrender back into the jail are about 4 political prisoners and one ordinary prisoner. In this rehab, there are a total of 180 prisoners and 32 of them are political prisoners.
Pidie
In Pidie there are 2 rehabs institutions, in Sigli and Lamno, Sub-District or Kecamatan Kota Bakti. In Sigli, the prisoners was released by the officials because of the earthquake and tsunami. The total of them are 222 people. So far, there are about 41 political prisoners returned to the jail and there are 3 prisoners died. Some of the prisoners also returned to the judges house-complex to help out on the cleaning up of the area.
In rehabilitation institution in Kota Bakti there are about 48 political prisoners from other jail and 83 criminal prisoners. In this place, one prisoner died in the hospital or RSU Kota Bakti, 36 unknown their whereabouts and some of them are 20 political prisoners.
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News Summary
The Conditions/Situations in Aceh
Civil Society Coalition for Earthquake-Tsunami Survivors
In Aceh and North Sumatra
14 January 2005, 20:00
Information on Isolated Areas and Accessible Areas
Desa Sukarmaju, Simeulue Timur, Simeuleu Island have not been reached by assistance. Urgently needed is water transportation between sub-districts. Aside of that. there is a need for tents for 8 refugee camps, sleeping gear, water pumps, sanitation and staple food items. Also needed are residing volunteers and development of health coordination posts (posko) in Sinabang, Simeuleu.
Information on Open Areas Needing Urgent Help
Black, salty and foul water is still a problem in Baiturrahman Sub-district, Banda Aceh City; clean water supply is still insufficient. Urgently needed are heavy equipment for evacuation, women sanitary items and feasibility for building clean water well.
Around 500 refugees living with their relatives in Blangkejren, Gayo Lues District, need masks and hand gloves. People’s homes are inundated with water of 0.5 meter high. Because some of them are injured, an ambulance needs to be sent to the Red Cross post urgently.
Today the number of refugees at the Local Government coordination post in Takengon, Aceh Tengah district, reaches 5,000 people. They came from Meulaboh and Banda Aceh, some of them have gone back to their home towns with their families. Counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists are needed to address trauma and lung specialists/internists are also needed. People can get free medical treatment at the Datu Beru Hospital, Takengon
Around 1,500 refugees in Lengkuto Mosque (the location of the village and sub-district is unknown), Pidie District, suffer from diarrhea, coughing, malnutrition. They will be relocated to an undecided location. Aid drop off should be reported to the sub-district, before being distributed to poskos. This slows the aid efforts to poskos in need. They need women underwear, baby milk and children’s vitamins.
In Samalanga sub-district, Bireun district, until today there are 12 refugee camps in Batee Iliek 1 & 2, meunasah Ie Rhob, mesjid Curucuk, Meurah, meunasah Glumpang, Makam Dikapan, meunasah Cot Siereun, mesjid Kuta Ara, meunasah Matang, SDN Pulo Diereun, and meunasah Matang Jireng. The total number of refugee is 17,933 people. Urgently needed are basic staple food, baby food and establishment of a health coordination post because the hospital was destroyed.
Until today, the number of refugees in Banda Sakti sub-district, Lhokseumawe city, reaches 3,300 people, and they are in need of cooking utensils, staple food items and cash.
There are 300 refugees at the Simpang Kiri sub-district office, Aceh Singkil district, many of them suffering from small injuries and trauma. They need food, medicines and Moslem attire.
It was reported that there are 3 refugee camps at the Kuala sub-district, Aceh Barat district, which are located in Auk Penyang village, Ujung Tanjung SMA IV and Daarussalah pesantren. Distribution of food, medicines, women items (underwear, head scarf, praying cloth, sanitary napkins) is needed urgently.
General Information
There is a disagreement between the Indonesian Government and the US Government over the restrictions of movement and working period for international volunteers in Aceh. The Indonesian Government, through its Vice President (Wapres) Jusuf Kalla stresses that the time restriction of March is for foreign military forces. Meanwhile, a refugee in the TVRI camp, Banda Aceh told us that international volunteers are still necessary.
There was a shooting incident by an unknown person towards a Muhammadiyah volunteer escorted by Brimob (mobile police squad) in Krueng Raya, Aceh Besar, while distributing aid. In addition, there was an armed clash between GAM and TNI and 5 GAM members were captured in Riau while they were trying to rob a logistics-carrying truck bound for Aceh. GAM in Sweden has called for a ceasefire. Apart from that, there has been illegal money collections (pungutan liar) directed towards distribution vehicles.
Transit posts (part 3) reported that refugee’s needs are not only instant food, high-nutrition food such as vegetables, baby milk, fruit and salted fish is especially needed. Other aid items currently needed are sarong, Moslem attire, women praying cloth, underwear (particularly women underwear), medicines and sugar. A TRK Jakarta source reported that Pidie, Calang and Teunom are still in dire need of logistics (food, clothing). Medics and medicines are also insufficient; although they are present, there are no regular visits to such locations as Meunasah Semanie, Meunasah Baroh and Meusanah Dakota. It was also reported that Calang, Aceh Jaya needs carpentry/building equipments since they have started rebuilding their village.
There was a disagreement between FPI leader Habib Riziq and the medics’ team regarding cremation of corpses, which according to Riziq is prohibited in Islam.
Several banks have started functioning again: BRI, Mandiri, Bukopin, BCA, BNI, BII, Danamon, Mandiri Syariah. They will immediately replace saving books for residents of Aceh who have lost theirs.
At the moment, at the Tanjung Priok seaport, Jakarta, KM Kendari Line is mooring. For organizations in Jakarta who want to use this free service from the Ministry of Social Affairs, please contact Bp. Kabel Saragih, SH at mobile number: 08111 57618. IOM also provides a free convoy of 15 trucks from Jakarta to Aceh regularly. To use this free service, please send an email to Sven Laukli/IOM contact (slaukli@iom.int).
The control held by Satkorlak over distribution of logistics is not accompanied by access and quick distribution coordination. Logistics assistance entering Meulaboh is piling up in the warehouse, although there is a huge need for them. Even the humanitarian assistance post in front of the Satkorlak office has not been given sufficient assistance, only in the form of instant noodles. The Jakarta node also got a ground report about the transportation problem (a ship broke down) to Calang.
Coordination between institutions managing humanitarian aid is still very weak, causing ineffective distribution.
Recommendations/Action Alert
1. The needs of disaster refugees/survivors
- Attention should be paid to the provision of water transportation vehicle between sub-districts in Simeuleu Island, and also to assistance for refugee camps in the forms of water pumps, sanitation, food, clothing, children’s needs and women sanitary needs.
- Need to look at the possibility to build clean water well in the Baiturrahman sub-district, Banda Aceh city, because the water is putrid, salty and foul.
- Urgently needed is to establish a Health Posko in Bireun and dispatch an ambulance to the Red Cross in Blangkejren, Gayo Lues District.
- It is important to pay attention to women reproductive health and children’s health and also specific disease detection, such as lung problems, mental disturbance and trauma.
- Dispatch of high-nutrition food (no more instant food) and sugar is very much needed.
- The need for sarong, Moslem attire, women praying cloth, underwear (particularly women underwear) and medicines are still a priority in several locations.
2. Volunteers
- Need for residing volunteers to provide assistance to refugees in Simeuleu Island.
- Need for lung specialists/internists, psychiatrists and counselors.
3. Emergency Work Coordination Needs
- Calling for all institutions that are concerned about Aceh to push the Indonesian Government, US Government and GAM to end disagreements and armed clashes that can affect emergency work and worsen people’s trauma. Also need to be addressed is crime and illegal money collections directed towards logistics-carrying vehicles.
- Requesting the government in Pidie and Meulaboh not to create bureaucracy in assistance distribution.
- Institutions that intend to establish new coordination posts (posko) on the ground are requested to coordinate with existing Poskos.
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SEGERA Aceh Relief and Monitoring Campaign news update
Jakarta - January 15, 2005
[The following report was compiled by Zelly A. from information sent by SEGERA (Solidarity Movement with the People of Aceh) activist volunteers currently deployed in Aceh to provide humanitarian relief and monitor the distribution of aid. See below for details on how you can assist SEGERA's Aceh Relief and Monitoring Campaign.]
Major General Bambang Darmono, the officer in charge of coordinating relief in Aceh, and the Minister of Welfare Alwi Shihab said yesterday that the zones which foreigners free to enter are Greater Aceh, West Aceh-Meulaboh and the provincial capital of Banda Aceh. For other areas all foreigners or non-government civilian organisations wishing to enter must do so with the authorisation of the local civil emergency authority. The decision was issued on the grounds of "freedom for humanitarian access". The "isolation" of these areas is being maintained on the grounds that they are conflict zones. The fact is however, that refugees are not just spread across Meulaboh and Banda Aceh but also in areas such as Bireuen, Pidie and Lhokseumawe.
In the field meanwhile, access to regions outside of Banda Aceh has indeed been difficult from the start. Particularly in areas which the government has declared as conflict zones. In Bireuen for example, refugees from Banda Aceh and Meulaboh who are spread among a number of villages are being accommodated in people's homes which has added to the logistical access problems because they are not living in refugee camps. According to a human rights group report in the Peusangan regency of Bireuen, their investigations into refugee families of this type have been severely hampered by local security forces. This has even gone as far as them being taken as Free Aceh Movement (GAM) infiltrators and were detained for two nights by the Juli local police. In practice refugees living in the various villages in Juli have received no aid for almost 15 days. The majority of the refugees are housewives, young children and babies totaling as many as 214 families.
Assistance from the government, international non-government organisations and the United Nations is being concentrated in the refugee camps. Meanwhile the majority of the refugees are in fact in the villages being accommodated by local people. One family is able to accommodate up to three other families. As a result the impact of the disaster at this time is spilling over into another social crisis related to employment opportunities and the unavailability of food. In practice the families who are accommodating them cannot survive much longer because there is no aid. Moreover this has been added to by the policy of Vice President Jusuf Kalla to centralise the refugee camps on only 24 points. The government refuse to acknowledge the existence of refugees living outside of these.
The reality is that people's psychological makeup is such that they really do not want to live in camps. There are three basic reasons for this: strong family traditions which make them prioritise seeking refuge with relatives remaining in the vicinity or even the family of the regent; the way refugees in the camps are being handled which is of great concern as standardised supplies are allocated to each refugee, from babies, nursing mothers, pregnant women, infants and small children. Likewise, during the first weeks even mediation was standardised - because of the minimal health facilities; and this has added to the trauma and made refugees not feel at home living in the camps. Even if they do remain in the camps the numbers fluctuate because during the day they are outsearching for missing family members and although some return to the camps at night to receive supplies, this is not always certain night as they know their allocation by already be gone by the time they return.
The extraordinary effect of this disaster has left behind it an equally extraordinary trauma. Social empowerment has declined dramatically. Self-confidence, solidarity and trust in others has also declined dramatically. Moreover the government and all of its structures are clearly incapable of dealing with this disaster in an organised let alone speedy manner. This situation provides a clear basis to prioritise the long-term need for support from volunteers to work with communities both in the camps as well as the villages. And these kind of volunteers are difficult to find with the majority at this time being still being drawn from outside of Aceh.
In giving consideration to the points above, the activists in Aceh from various sectors, the majority of whom have lost their homes or searching for relatives and families, have formed the Central Aid in Resolving Aceh (Care Aceh) and are optimalising other institutions such as SeFa (Safe for Aceh) which has been in Aceh working with refugees and dealing with the trauma of loss since the state of martial law was declared in May 2003 and during the periods of civil emergency. Among the respective organisations at the moment there are between 40-60 volunteers but this will increase as the situation stabilises, that is when the search for families has been maximised and the recruitment of local volunteers has improved.
The following work has been and is currently being carried out in Banda Aceh and Greater Aceh:
- Assessing the total number and classifying the priorities of refugees in the villages who are being accommodated by local people, including their most urgent needs. This is being conducted in the Berabung village in the Darussalam regency, the Lambaet and Lamteube Gapula villages in the Kuta Baro regency, the Neuheun village in the SMIK area and the Ujong Bate kampung in the Mesjid Raya regency and the Geuce Komplek village in Aneuk Galong Sibreh. These villages are scattered across Banda Aceh and Greater Aceh and will be broadened as points of priority are determined.
- Dropping of the most basic relief supplies has been done at a number of refugee points, a free clinics have been built in the areas of Lam Ateuk, Lampeuneureut and Indrapuri, including an alternative education and trauma healing pilot project.
- Investigating the long-term needs of respective villages, such as establishing alternative education for children, places for them to play, women's activities. This is being done in the context of trauma healing and will be adjusted on the basis of follow up investigations.
Situation update
The greatest obstacle at the moment is work mobilisation. Accommodation, communication and transport to conduct investigations and dropping off aid supplies - the availability of large pickup trucks, motorcycles and bicycles is extremely limited and needs to be augmented by medical equipment and supplies. Medical expertise is simply not sufficient at present.
The long-term need to also establish an alternative information media - both a radio and newspaper for the people - is also extremely great, especially to provide information which can assist in rebuilding people's self-confidence and the enthusiasm to empower local communities.
There are a number of flooded areas which were not initially effected by the tsunami however the number of casualties in these areas is now climbing particularly in the Sawang regency of North Aceh and Tamiang Kualasimpang in East Aceh where flood waters are as high as 1.5 metres.
[Translated by James Balowski for Action in Solidarity with Asia andthe Pacific's (ASAP) Aceh Tsunami Blog Solidarity Fund for Aceh. To keep up-to-date with the SEGERA campaign visit http://www.acehsolidarity.blogspot.com/.]
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News Summary
Conditions/Situations in Aceh
Civil Society Coalition for Earthquake-Tsunami Survivors
In Aceh and North Sumatera
15-16 January 2005, 20:00
Aceh Besar, Lhoknga sub-district, needs staple food items (rice, salted fish, cooking oil, kerosene, sugar, etc) for 400 IDPs from Ketapang village (upper hill area) and 200 IDPs in Nusa II village (lower hill area). The IDPs are staying in people’s houses that are still relatively intact. Lampeuneuruet sub-district also needs staple food items. In Kuta Baru sub-district, staple food stock is sufficient for 2-3 days only, and 15% of the 1,500 IDPs are ill (diarrhea, respiratory disease, wounds and infections).
Aceh Jaya, Calang city is lacking medical team, therefore wounded victims and people with respiratory track infections are not treated sufficiently well. Staple food items have started coming to the area and for the time being they are in sufficient amount.
South West Aceh, Blang Pidie sub-district, there are many IDPs from Banda Aceh and Meulaboh in this location suffer from wounds, infection and diarrhea. The medical team due to the limited number of medics, who also service Meulaboh/West Aceh, has treated only 10% of total IDPs. There is minimum stock of medicine, while food and clothing assistance is almost non-existent in 6 IDP camps in South West Aceh.
In Simeuleu, in particular the IDPs located in the foothills, there is an urgent need for medical team and medicine because they have started to get malaria disease, diarrhea and skin problems. It was recorded that there were 5 people dead due to diarrhea and malaria. Other needs are infant food, such as milk, porridge, pudding; sheltering equipment such as plastic tents, hoses, water barrels/containers, lighting; women’s underwear; and fuel. In Simeuleu district there were 12 fatalities, 156 wounded, 12,008 houses vanished, 12.008 religious houses destroyed, 152 school buildings vanished, 206 government buildings heavily damaged, 227 bridges and roads destroyed. There are 2 humanitarian assistance posts, the Satkorlak (Field Coordinating Unit) who distributes assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Simeuleu Lestari Foundation who monitors five IDP camps totaling 21,003 people.
The level of health of the IDPs in Bireun district, Samalanga sub-district decreased due to diarrhea, skin problems and infections from the wounds. Babies, infants and pregnant women are in dire condition. There is no toilet and washing facilities. This area needs a more permanent health post, since the medical team only comes every two days. They also need food items and the establishment of toilet and washing facilities.
In Aceh Besar district, the sub district of Mataie, Blang Bintang, Kampung Ateu, Lampeuneuen, and Lamreng, IDPs are starting to recover from the trauma and they want to go back to their villages to rebuild the remaining houses and facilities. For that they really need house reconstruction equipment such as wheelbarrows, hoes, trowels, boots, gloves, scythes and axes.
General Information
Transportation is quite a significant obstacle in distributing the staple food items and equipment needed by the IDPs to humanitarian assistance posts. As an example, the Gorontalo government has helped providing 50 sets of simple toilet and washing kits, but the distribution was delayed due to transportation issues. The most reliable transportation means currently are becak taxis, pick-up/utility vehicles, buses and trucks, but they are very costly! (becak taxis charge a minimum fare of Rp 20,000). The price of fuel in Banda Aceh has started to normalize, although people still have to stand in queues.
Apart from the Muhammadiyah Radio that has been on air since 7 January 2005, Prima FM Radio Banda Aceh is expected to go on air again starting 20 January 2005. In Meulaboh a communication radio facility will also be built. It is expected that these radio stations can contribute significantly as a communication and information exchange in Aceh. Government bureaucracy still needs to be addressed because of the difficult and lengthened process for licensing.
There are many coordination posts that use remaining mosques. However, it becomes a hindrance for women in their periods, because the religion and culture prohibit them from entering the mosques. Emergency tents need to be built, particularly in Meulaboh, so that this issue can be resolved soon.
Meulaboh beach has started to be crowded by scavengers that are looking for ruins and reusable items left by the tsunami, such as: wood, metals, and plastics. One activity can generate two benefits at once. The scavengers get the benefit, and the ruins are being cleared off the beach without the need for incineration.
Action Alerts
1. The Needs of Disaster Survivors/IDPs
- Detection of lung damage due to swallowing muddy water has not been done properly; equipment and specialist human resources are needed to address this issue.
- Clean water and sanitation facilities/equipment (including the establishment of WC or MCK) is still very much needed in several IDP camps, although there are several institutions that are specifically providing these items. It might be a good idea to find information from the PDAM (local water companies) about their plans, so that there will be no overlapping.
- There is still a great need for staple food items (rice, sugar, cooking oil, kerosene, and food dishes) for IDPs because several stocks/warehouses of the humanitarian assistance are starting to run out of these items.
- Emergency tents, particularly for women, are needed in Meulaboh because it is difficult to use mosques as their permanent shelter.
- Clothing, praying equipment and school equipment are still needed in several IDP camps.
2. Volunteers
Volunteers with skills in the health sector are still needed in large numbers; also in need are volunteers with skills to care for children, because of the outbreak of skin diseases, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, stomach problems in various IDP camps. There needs to be a briefing for volunteers to care for themselves (basic skills in first aid) so they will not become a problem due to illness and/or accidents (which have happened quite a lot).
3. Emergency Work Coordination Needs
Volunteers and managers of transit posts in Aceh who conducted field assessment on IDP camps are expected to coordinate for effective mapping of needs and distribution of logistics.
Assembled by YAPPIKA – Civil Society Alliance for Democracy
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Source: Robert Jereski's local contacts
Date: 15 Jan 2005
Jereski, CAGI's US-based colleague, said that one of his local contact (Radhi) was just there. He spoke with Banda Aceh Forum LSM for 20 minutes. He commented on what many of us must already know either from contacts on the ground or from the nature of these and OCHA reports: there is little coordination of this relief effort apparent from OCHA or the disaster relief agency in Jakarta and certainly little coordination with local NGOs. Relief supplies are delivered as per application to logistics for transport and, in Medan, Banda Aceh, at the discretion/prioritization of TNI. No overall needs assessment information is apparent to compare with field reports we get from local NGOs.
As per Radhi's conversation with Forum LSM (which is in contact with the major INGOs on the ground), there is a need for coordination; most are (properly, according to Radhi) changing operational modes to reconstruction from recovery (although concern exists for appropriate needs assessment of possible survivors in the jungle east of the Banda Aceh-Meulaboh coast). There is a need for Lung Evacuating Equipment (many survivors have salt water in lungs; infections too with dirty water). Also toilets need to be created in IDP camps.
Assembled by YAPPIKA - Civil Society Alliance for Democracy
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Source: Robert Jereski's local contacts
Date: 15 Jan 2005
Field Report from Biruen District, Acheh (translated into English, with original in Bahasa Indonesia below)
Military Operations
Military operations by TNI that have resulted in crossfire between TNI and GAM frequently occur in Acheh despite the suffering and sadness felt by the Acehnese people because of the Earthquake and Tsunami disaster. In the districts of North Acheh (Acheh Utara) and East Acheh (Acheh Timur) there is fighting between TNI and GAM almost every day. As an example, in Keude Geurebak, Sub-district Banda Alam, on the 8th of January 2005, two civilians named Mahdi bin Abdul Kadir, aged 25, and Ibrahim bin Rusli, aged 20, died after being shot by Raider 330 troops from Posko Jambo Teuhat in an operation called by the TNI there. These two victims were shot in Keude Blang Rambong village, Banda Alam (Keude Gereubak), East Aceh.
This case was covered by volunteers in the field, and it is estimated that such events also take place in other places.
TNI Humanitarian Posts in Camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
In Bireun District, and North Aceh, all IDP camps since five days after the Tsunami were in the control of TNI. They opened posts with the name TNI Humanitarian Post (Posko Kemanusiaan TNI). TNI Posts also worked to provide healthcare and distribution of aid. Other than guarding the security of IDPs, they also coordinate non-military volunteers and get involved in humanitarian work in IDP camps.
As has been reported in http://www.acehkita.com/, the TNI in IDP camps clearly function to control tightly communication between IDPs and outsiders, most importantly with journalists and international NGOs. IDPs are forbidden by the TNI to speak directly to journalists and foreign NGOs, what more to convey real information about what they face while displaced. This makes it difficult for journalists to get a real sense of what is being experienced by IDPs, and complicates the work of humanitarian workers and NGOs.
Besides that, according to volunteers from Al-Muslim University in Bireun District, in Sub-District Matang Geulumpang Dua, TNI in IDP camps also provide medical treatment to people, distribute logistics, and so on. This makes IDPs afraid to ask the TNI for the help that they need. This can be understood if we remember that the IDPs are people who have lived in oppression all this while under military operations, and amongst them are also people who have experienced violence by combatants.
Relocation of IDPs
It is planned that IDPs in Bireun District will be relocated and will be placed in Peudada Sub-District and Samalanga Sub-District. And in North Aceh, they will be located in Simpang Ulim Sub-District. The relocation and handling of the IDPs will be undertaken by the Indonesian Government, through local authorities (Pemerintah Daerah) and TNI along with other approved non-government parties, which means that civilians and volunteers that wish to work with IDPs have to register themselves with Government authorities.
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Acheh Field Report - No. 6
January 16, 2005
Highlight: Indonesian troops killed one 6 year-old child, 7 civilians and 5 GAM members.
12/01/05 ~ 12:30
At Alue Itam, Sungo Raya, Peureulak, Abdullah Wahab, 38, rubber tapper, was severely beaten up by TNI's R-200 troops based at the Alue Itam operational post.
14/01/05
- At Uteuen Dama (damar resin trees jungle), Peureulak, East Acheh, the villagers are ordered to report to the military post when they entered the jungle to tap the resin. The Meunasah (Village prayer house) is occupied by TNI troops who brought in prostitutes. The commander of the TNI Company occupying this village, First Lt. Marlianus ordered the Geutjhik (village head) to collect 20 chickens a week as well woods for cooking for his troops.
- At Blang Rambong, Bandar Alam, many civilians have been forced to pay operational money to the TNI troops under the command of Capt. Arifti Herianto 5 million to 10 million Rupiah. Known to have paid the extortion: Razali ben Puteh, 48, Sofyan ben Kasem, 38, Nasron ben Husen, Jamil ben Ahmad, 32, Mrs. Hasanah binti Daud, 40, Nurdin bin Daud, 30, all traders.
- Members of the Indonesian military intelligence corps beat up villagers during an opeation at Rambong: Gravely hurt: Husen ben Juni 55, Rahman ben Husen 40, Daud ben Suleiman 42, Ibrahim ben Nurdin 22, Maimun ben M. Ali 25, KS. Alamsyah 18, all farmers.
15/01/05
- At Asam Rampak, armed contact between Free Acheh Movement troops TNA/GAM. No casualty reported.
- After an armed contact at Matang Seuleumak, Murus Salam, 3.5 km from the Banda Acheh - Medan trunk road, the TNI troops shot dead two villagers M. Yakob, 45, fishermen and Desi Ratnasari, female chiled, 6, from Blang Rambong - Bandar Alam.
- Rubber tappers are ordered to pay Rp 500/kg. of rubber they tap, by Capt. Arifitri Herianto, TNI Commander based at Post Blang, Rambong.
- 08.45: Armed contacts at Paya Sungat - West Peureulak, 5 members of TNA were killed, 3 pcs of weapons captured by TNI. The Achehnese martyrs: Mahyuddin ben M. Yusuf, 24, from Tanjong Tualang, Hamdan ben M Djamil 27, Zulkifli ben Rusli 22, borth from Panton Rayeuk, Rizal ben Rusli 24, Zulkarnaen ben Abdul Gani 22, both from Paya Gajah.
Note: Unknown source, believed to be GAM, but unspecified.
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Acheh Field Report - No. 7
January 18, 2005
13/01/05
- 17.30: M. Yusof Yakub, 23, trader, is in critical condition after being beaten by TNI soldiers because they found with him 10 kg of rice belonging to a friend. The military accused him of purchasing the rice for GAM. Achehnese are strictly rationed in the purchase of rice in the market. Perpetrators: TNI's special anti-guerilla troops, Raiders Battalion, R900.
- 12.00: M. Amir Zakaria, 20, trader, from Seuneubok Lapang, Peureulak, East Acheh, was extorted 8 million rupiah and his identity card confiscated by TNI, Raiders Battalion R500, from the Babah Krueng operational command post, East Peureulak.
- 20.45: Armed contact between TNA/GAM guerillas and Indonesian troops at Meunasah Asam Malat. A TNA soldier, Armia Tala, 21, was captured and 1 weapon without ammunition was seized. Clashes occurred at about 17 km off the Acheh-Medan trunk road.
14/01/05 ~ 11.00
Amin, 31, Nurussalam, age unknown, Syukman ben Gam, 20, are in critical condition, after being beaten up by Captain David Siregar of Raiders 900 Battalion.
16/01/05 ~ 04.00
TNA bases at Bukit Matjan, Dama Sipat, Maak Kameng, Wonosari, attacked by Indonesian troops from the Cobra Ambon Raiders 200 Battalion, Mahesa Company, together with the 312 Inf. Battalion. Due to this operation the villagers around these areas are forbidden from tapping their rubbers until 27th January.
Note: for security reasons - civil groups doing monitoring and who are Acehnese are not able to identify themselves.
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News Summary
Conditions/Situations in Aceh
Civil Society Coalition for Earthquake-Tsunami Survivors
In Aceh and North Sumatera
17 January 2005, 20:00
Small tremors and tropical rain keep pounding Banda Aceh. The Internally Displaced People (IDP) at the IAIN Darussalam campus, Darussalam sub-district, Banda Aceh have started contracting coughing, skin problems and trauma. Bureaucracy for aid distribution organized by Satkorlak is very complicated and difficult, causing aid provision process for the IDP to be not very optimum. There are villages considered unsafe (because of GAM presence) in Darussalam sub-district, namely Cekrueng, Bedalapan Tungkap, Krueng Raya and Lambaro Ajab villages.
Cholera has been reported to start spreading among the IDP in Nagan Raya due to low quality sanitation and lack of clean water. Even some volunteers have started to contract diseases like the IDP, such as: tetanus, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea and cholera. There is a long queue for medical treatment due to minimum available medical team. What has been done is putting doses of chlorine in clean water wells.
Aceh Besar is still pounded by torrential rain and the water level has reached the road. Some of the IDP in tents were relocated to Kuta Baro and Mata Ie, which are relatively higher areas, and were located in a school, mosque and family homes. Health issues in 7 IDP camps in Ujung Karang, Ladong, Ruyung, Nuhun, Dunung, Srak Masjid Raya and Masjid Raya villages, Krueng Raya sub-district, Aceh Besar are currently being addressed by a foreign medical team. Most important needs of the 7 IDP camps are clean water, food dishes, and underwear (men and women). Covered bodies are still seen along the street; particularly in Taju area, there are still many bodies trapped under ruins and have not been evacuated.
IDP locations in villages in Aceh Jaya and West Aceh (around Meulaboh) are still in dire need of logistics (food, clothing, medicine) and a medical team due to transportation problems. Apart from that, people who are not the victims of the tsunami but were affected (difficulties in finding food, food price is very high) should also be considered because it could be a trigger to a conflict among the people and between the people and the aid provider.
In Aceh Selatan, Tapak Tuan city, the local government is taking care of about 20,000 IDPs, spread around 16 sub-districts. Most of the IDP, mainly coming from Meulaboh and Banda Aceh, live in people’s homes. Government aid is only sufficient for today (17/01); therefore outside assistance is still needed. South Aceh government has prepared a vehicle to take logistics (staple food items, clothing, medicine) to be delivered directly to IDP locations. Psychiatrists and psychologists are also needed because the IDP suffer from trauma.
In Bireun, particularly at the office of Gandapura Pinggir sub-district, national road, 37 km west of Lhokseumawe, 437 IDP are cared for (men: 195, women: 242, pregnant women: 2, babies: 43). The IDP still need toiletries (soap, toothpaste, towel), praying items (sarong, women’s praying cloth), cooking utensils and cutlery, women sanitary napkins, and medicine.
Tekengon city, Central Aceh sub-district has become the IDP main traffic and currently, there is no outside aid coming to the area, especially to the humanitarian aid post in Simpang Empat village, Takengon. Urgent needs include blanket, sarong, children and adult clothing and underwear (men and women), sleeping mat, stove for the soup kitchen and toiletries.
11% of the total IDP of 27,062 people spread around 20 IDP locations in 7 sub-districts in Norths Aceh suffer from illness/wounds. The number of identified orphans aged 4-17 reached 131 children, spread around several villages. Assistance is coming to North Aceh, but due to the large number of IDP, this area is still in dire need of: food, drink, school supplies, head scarf and women praying cloth, men and women underwear, women’s sanitary napkins. In addition, also urgently needed are 4 large army tents, 4 medium army tents, 3 regular tents (covers 4m x 3m area), a pick-up/utility vehicle to distribute aid (a loan would be more preferred since the cost of hire is around Rp 800.000 -1.200.000 per day).
In Lhokseumawe, an internist charges Rp 300,000 per patient for sucking out dirt inhaled/ swallowed by victims!
General Information
It was reported that the government has prohibited foreign private corporations to take the aid directly to disaster victims. The aid should be channeled through an account provided by the government, to be used in relocation in the disaster area. It was also reported that the National Legislature Body (DPR) would discuss a plan to establish a special body with full authority to deal with Aceh, because they consider the government as being slow in acting to the disaster.
Assistance of tetanus, cholera and typhoid vaccines is really wanted for volunteers evacuating the bodies. Bodies have started to release fluid that mixes with inundated water and is potential to cause health problems to volunteers who undertake the evacuation. There are quite a few volunteers contracting the upper respiratory tract infection caused by the dusts from the ruins and the incineration of the corpses. There was also an issue about religion (SARA) emerging, causing the volunteers from the cathedral will be pulled out temporarily from Aceh.
There are sufficient doctors but they are concentrated in Banda Aceh, while other areas such as Sigli/Pidie and Aceh Jaya are still in need of medical teams. Specialists in current demand are internists and psychiatrists.
IDP at the humanitarian aid posts in Simpang Kiri, Aceh Singkil, have started to diminish because they have gone back to the surviving family members in Meulaboh. There are only 3 IDP left from the previous 300 people.
There has been coordination between Simeulue Lestari Foundation (YSL) who owns the logistic transit post in Singkil with the Jakarta Humanitarian Volunteers Network (Jaringan Relawan Kemanusiaan Jakarta (JRKJ)) and Walhi Medan for the provision of logistics in Simeulue Island.
The government today stated that the rice assistance for Aceh is good for the next four months. This assistance came from the Food Aid Organization of the United Nations. However, the flooding in the Eastern Route (South Sumatra) has caused land-based distribution of aid to Aceh and North Sumatra to be delayed for quite a while.
Recommendation/Action Alert
1. Needs of the Disaster IDP/survivors
- Particular attention should be paid to IDP spread around the villages of Aceh Jaya and West Aceh-Meulaboh sub-districts, because they are barely reached by the assistance. Transportation equipment is needed to reach the remote and difficult locations.
2. Volunteers
Tetanus, cholera, and typhoid vaccines should be provided, as well as adequate equipment (masks, gloves, boots) for volunteers with the task of evacuating the corpses and cleaning up the junk and ruins.
3. Need for Emergency-Relief Work coordination
There are more Indonesian Civil Society Organizations working together in the bid to make the humanitarian aid distribution more effective. They even have started to discuss recovery and reconstruction strategies. The process of collecting, compiling and disseminating information like this one turns out to provide support for this cooperation among institutions. It is very unfortunate that the information from international agencies who are playing a role in distributing humanitarian aid (proactively, not donor agencies) is very minimum. Until now, there are only few international organizations that are willing to share data and are potential in coordinating with Indonesian organizations. Can we, the Indonesian Civil Society Organizations and the international NGOs work together?
Assembled by YAPPIKA – Civil Society Alliance for Democracy
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News Summary
Conditions/Situations in Aceh
Civil Society Coalition for Earthquake-Tsunami Survivors
In Aceh and North Sumatera
18 January 2005, 20:00
Information on Urgent Needs
Special coordination post for body evacuation in Ketapang Village, next to NAD’s deputy governor’s house, Banda Aceh, needs long coats for evacuation, body bags, masks and gloves. Currently, there have been 270 bodies evacuated from 9 locations, among them are from Kaju (most of the bodies will be evacuated tomorrow, 19 Jan 2005), Rajun Jumpit, Lam Tengah, Lingke, Prada, Darussalam, Lam Zumen Timur, Geuceu Tower, Geuceu Bridge. Earthquake, rain and building ruins have been slowing down body evacuation in this city.
In Blang Me, Lhoong sub-district, Aceh Besar District, it turned out that there are 2 villages, which had not reached by any kind of aid. This area needs 50 tarpaul tents. Around 2,360 bodies have not been evacuated. There are 200 survivors. Urgently needed now are also staple food items (rice, food dishes, sugar, cooking oil and kerosene). Meanwhile, 4,000 IDP in Lhok Nga, Aceh Besar District need 50 tents, promised by Satkorlak but have not been seen.
Many IDP at Depsos, Banda Aceh are ill and hungry, although they are located near the logistical source. They need staple food items (rice, sugar, food dishes, cooking oil, kerosene and canned fish), medicine and medical team.
IDP at the Samalanga sub-district, Bierun district, need soup kitchen equipment (stove, pots, frying pans, kettles), staple food items (rice, food dishes, kerosene, cooking oil and sugar). IDP are mostly fishermen who are keen to resume their activities in the sea, but they do not have the equipment. They request assistance for some fishing equipment (boat, nets, angler). Currently they people from Tanjung, Ancaing, Kedai Aceh, Songso, Pantering, Blangkicu villages are looking for their remaining belongings from the ruins of their homes. They also need medicine for fever, diarrhea, skin problems and nutrition for pregnant mothers. Also needed are sanitation and clean water, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, detergent.
Al Muslim coordination post in Bireun district needs medicine, cooking utensils (stove, pots, pans, ember, mortars and pestles, plates, glasses, spoons, staple food items, spices, milk, sarong, praying cloth, blankets, praying mats, tents.
Deteriorating health conditions are being experienced by IDP at the Tanah Pasir sub-district office, North Aceh district. They contracted upper respiratory tract infection, coughing, fever and many children are suffering from vomiting and diarrhea. They need clean water source, 40 army tents, 40 toilet and washing facilities, funding and 100 water containers.
It was recorded that around 11,520 people from 21 villages at the Tanah Pasir sub-district, North Aceh district sought for safety in Lhoksukon and Syamtalira. They are now gradually going home to their original villages, but 3 locations provided for these IDP, which are the soccer field in front of the KUD, in front of the elementary school and at the Al Huda mosque, have not had adequate facilities. Until today, there are 2,067 IDP who have gone home, following the 1,853 IDP before them. There is an urgent need for army tents, clean water and toilet and washing facilities, water container and establishment of an artesian water well.
At the Banda Sakti sub-district, Lhokseumawe city, there is a coordination post that cares for 19,000 IDP which are spread around in 7 IDP camps. The IDP are having skin problems. Urgently needed are medicine for skin problems, women’s needs (underwear, sanitary napkins, head scarf), staple food items (rice, sugar. Cooking oil, kerosene, food dishes), school supplies (stationery, books), and volunteers to counsel for their trauma. Apart from that, in Peusang Baru village, there are 100 IDP and in Peusang Lama village, there are 50 IDP. They are having fever, coughing, cold and gastric problems. They need rebuilding their destroyed homes and also staple food items. In this sub-district, there is no doctor and there are very few toilet and washing facilities.
In Sigli city, Pidie district, there are 17,047 IDP who are spread around 5 locations. Due to flooding water as high as 0.5 m on the main roads, they have started to contract diarrhea, coughing and fever. They really need staple food items (rice, food dishes, sugar, cooking oil, kerosene, tea and coffee) and medicine. After the period of rain, the IDP have started to experience fever, coughing, diarrhea. Clean water and toilet and washing facilities are available but only minimally.
The psychologists who came to the Calang sub-district, Aceh Jaya district only collected data and after two days, they left, while the IDP need trauma counseling. Rakata Adventure coordination post cares for 3,700 IDP. There are only 10-12 clean water wells. In addition, they need equipment to build the shelter, staple food items (rice, salted fish, sugar, cooking oil and kerosene), residing medical volunteers and counselors/psychologists.
The worst hit area in Simeuleu Island is Alafan and West Simeuleu sub-district. There are no special shelter for IDP. They made their own huts on the foothill or praying houses. They need sanitation and clean water.
The Red Cross coordination post in Aceh Besar needs transportation assistance since the cost of hire is relatively expensive, and they need to reach remote areas. Muhammadiyah Medan coordination post need rice assistance.
General Information
Aid packages from PKS and USAID are piling up in the Tapaktuan port, South Aceh district. Words are that the aid will be shipped to Meulaboh but there is no clear shipping schedule.
IDP are lacking high-protein food, particularly the children of 12-15 years of age who are vulnerable to brain degradation. Therefore, very much needed are food with high-protein content such as salted fish, canned food, tempe and others.
Disinfection spraying has been started by the Red Cross in Langsa, East Aceh. They include the areas of Simpang Ulin, Binjai city and Idie. Currently there are 1221 Red Cross volunteers in NAD, and today 116 volunteers are being dispatched from West Sumatera and East Java.
Rebuilding of people’s homes in Aceh should involve local people. The development should be done permanently on their own land. A barrack model should be directed to victims who are very poor and do not have any land suitable for settlement. Development involving the people is part of the psychological healing process for the community, while the government provides the building materials and acts as facilitator.
The government and House of Representatives are discussing the handling of the earthquake and tsunami survivors (Aceh and North Sumatera), among them about aid, volunteers and foreign presence in Aceh. There will be 3 stages of relocation: (1) Emergency Stage to safe people’s lives, for 6-12 months; (2) Rehabilitation Stage for 1-2 years; (3) Reconstruction Stage to fix public facilities for 5 years.
Red Cross coordination post in Aceh Besar needs transportation assistance because the cost of hire is relatively low, and they need to reach remote areas. Meanwhile, shipping of materials to is delayed because the requirement to report the army.
Recommendations/Action Alerts
1. Needs of the Disaster IDP/survivors
- Urgently needed are body evacuation equipment in Banda Aceh city (Ketapang village coordination post, next to deputy governor’s house) in the form of monkey masks, body bags, gloves and long coats. the need should be urgently addressed because body evacuation is racing against time.
- Need for comprehensive data collecting in areas still full with dead bodies to speed up the evacuation work. Apart from that, there is also a need for data collecting for shelter locations vulnerable to flooding, so that relocation can be done to better areas. This data collecting is needed for distribution of evacuation equipment and materials for building barracks, considering this is the rainy season, and there are many finds of bodies in the water.
- Also needed is data collecting for the livelihood of the IDP and thought should be given to what is needed for them to resume their production activities, such as fishing, commerce, planting, etc.
- Staple food items, medicine and medical and counseling teams are still needed until today, particularly in areas such as Pidie, Bireun, and Aceh Jaya.
- Clean water has become the main necessity in Tanah Pasir, North Aceh and in Simeulue Island.
2. Volunteers
- Need to stress that volunteer psychologists are expected to stay and counsel for people’s trauma in IDP camps and not merely collecting data. And if possible, they should train other volunteers to be able to function as counselors.
- Volunteers are encouraged to spread out to East and West coasts and not to concentrate in Banda Aceh only.
3. Needs of Emergency-Relief Work coordination
Calling for army officers not to require aid distributors to report to bureaucracy, because it delays the speed of distribution.
Assembled by YAPPIKA – Civil Society Alliance for Democracy
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