Indonesia Aceh province faces tragedy

Indonesia Aceh province faces tragedy





    
January 2007  - Two years to 
the day after the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami washed away 
hundreds of thousands of people, Indonesia's Aceh province 
again faces tragedy. At least 90 people are confirmed dead and 
nearly 200 are missing after heavy rains during the past 10 
days triggered severe flash flooding and mudslides across 
Aceh. 
After initial assessments of the devastation, the Indonesian 
Red Cross, or Palang Merah Indonesia, PMI, says more than 
365,000 inhabitants were displaced from their homes along the 
east coast of Aceh province in northern Sumatra due to the 
severe weather. 
In some areas, the downpours washed away roads and bridges, 
making access impossible by land. Still, PMI is distributing 
vital relief supplies to tens of thousands of displaced 
people. 
Aulia, a PMI volunteer, is based in the flood affected village 
of Kota Kuala Simpang in Aceh Tamiang district. 
“Up to three meters of flood water has inundated the village, 
but fortunately the water is beginning to subside,” said 
Aulia. “Most people evacuated their houses some days ago and 
many houses have since been swept away.” 
Villagers at their flooded house in the village of Alur Jambu 
in the Aceh Tamiyang district. December 26, 2006. (Photo 
courtesy WFP) 
The Aceh Tamiang district government says 203,722 out of the 
246,852 total district population have been displaced, 
thousands of homes have been destroyed, and 59 elementary 
schools have been damaged. 
The most urgent needs of affected communities are for food, 
tents, medical teams and medicines. 
Harun Al Rashid, the International Federation’s Disaster 
Management delegate in Banda Aceh, says PMI volunteers and 
staff are working in close cooperation with other humanitarian 
agencies in an effort to ensure that immediate needs are being 
met. 
The United Nations is responding to the request by the 
government of Indonesia to coordinate emergency relief to the 
North, East and Central Aceh regions that have been affected 
by the floods. 
“UN helicopters are dropping supplies in some hard to reach 
areas, and PMI volunteers are working with communities to 
ensure that the supplies are quickly distributed,” Al Rashid 
said. 
PMI volunteers have so far distributed more than one and a 
half metric tons of relief materials that have been dropped by 
UN helicopters, with further drops planned. 
Under an agreement with the World Bank, volunteers will 
distribute a further five tons of food and medicines over the 
coming days. 
In addition, 12 International Federation of Red Cross trucks 
have been dispatched from the city of Banda Aceh to the 
affected region, each of them laden with emergency supplies 
provided by the UN World Food Programme, WFP. 
"This is excellent collaborative work with the local 
government, the Indonesian military, NGOs and UN agencies, 
which is having the desired impact on the affected 
population," said Mohamed Saleheen, WFP representative in 
Indonesia. 
“We are grateful to Norway, Spain and the UN’s Central 
Emergency Response Fund for making funds available immediately 
to allow us to effectively respond to this disaster. We urge 
other donors to continue to support this relief effort,” 
Saleheen said. 
By Friday, WFP had delivered 122 metric tons of 
micronutrient-enriched noodles and biscuits, which are now 
being distributed to displaced people in camps. 
Though flood waters are now receding, heavy rain is forecast 
for the coming days and further downpours could see the 
situation deteriorate quickly. 
Meanwhile, a former Indonesian rebel and political prisoner on 
Friday was officially declared the winner in the first direct 
election for governor in Aceh province. He won 38.2 percent of 
the vote, according to the Aceh Independent Election 
Commission. 
Irwandi Yusuf, who two years ago was held in an Acehnese 
prison, will be handling Aceh's recovery from the devastating 
deluge after he takes office on February 9. 
Irwandi, a former guerilla with the separatist Free Aceh 
Movement, GAM, ran as an independent. He was endorsed by 
former GAM field commanders. GAM laid down its weapons in 
August 2005 in exchange for amnesty, special autonomy for Aceh 
and the right to contest future elections.