Acehnese must define what's necessary for them<\/p>\n
Among the dozens of foreign non-governmental organizations
\n(NGOs) that arrived in Indonesia to help tsunami survivors was
\nFinland's FinnChurchAid. Accompanied by its local partners, the
\nNGO's representatives traveled to Meulaboh, West Aceh and Nias,
\nNorth Sumatra. The Jakarta Post's Kanis Dursin interviewed head
\nof humanitarian aid at FinnChurchAid Helena Manninen-Visuri in
\nJakarta last week. The following is an excerpt of the interview.<\/p>\n
Question: What is your organization doing in Aceh?<\/p>\n
Answer: We have a relief program going on together with our
\nlocal partners. We have a water purification and sanitation
\nprogram in Meulaboh and surrounding areas. We distribute clean
\nwater to IDP (internally displaced persons) settlements and clean
\nup wells. We also build latrines at IDP settlements. In Nias, we
\nhave just started. There had been some distribution of relief
\ngoods and water and sanitation projects on the island.<\/p>\n
Who are your local partners?<\/p>\n
Our local partners are the YTB (Development and Relief
\nOrganization), a humanitarian group linked to PGI (the Communion
\nof Churches in Indonesia). The other one is Yakum Emergency Unit,
\nwhich specializes in the health sector and water and sanitation
\nand trauma healing.<\/p>\n
What relief goods did you provide for tsunami victims?<\/p>\n
In the beginning, our partners provided tents, food, medicine,
\nmosquito nets, household equipment, stoves, school kits,
\nmattresses and clothes. I heard they still need those goods,
\nespecially in faraway villages.<\/p>\n
There are a lot of organizations in Banda Aceh and Meulaboh,
\nbut if you go to villages further away, there are no relief
\nworkers, while the needs are so big.<\/p>\n
How much money are you allocating for Aceh operations?<\/p>\n
We have set aside 1.1 million euros (US$1,43 million) and will
\nconsider the most urgent needs as the reconstruction process is
\nabout to start.<\/p>\n
What problems have to be resolved immediately?<\/p>\n
I think it is the access. Roads and bridges have to be
\nrepaired as soon as possible so that we can transport goods to
\nfaraway villages. I also hope that telecommunications will be
\nrestored soon as we want to ensure that local people and their
\nneeds are being heard.<\/p>\n
We have to respect the needs of local people as we want them
\nto take responsibility for the programs. We also don't want to
\ndefine what is necessary for the Acehnese. We want the Acehnese
\nto tell us what they need and we will support them.<\/p>\n
What do the Acehnese need now?<\/p>\n
The issue of their livelihoods is also very important. They
\nneed some basic services, like health and education, and they
\nneed to restore their livelihoods. Farmers should be helped to
\ncultivate their farms again, and fishermen must be supported so
\nthat they can go fishing again. They cannot depend on grants for
\never and actually Acehnese themselves don't like the idea (of
\ndepending on grants).<\/p>\n
How can your organization help in the reconstruction work?<\/p>\n
We have made some plans as to how to support reconstruction
\nand will take into account local people's needs. If they say
\nthat, OK, here are 10 villages, then we can count how much money
\nwe have in our pocket. (And) it is very important that the
\nreconstruction process is well coordinated as there are so many
\norganizations involved in Aceh.<\/p>\n
What are your plans for Aceh and Nias?<\/p>\n
Actually, they are being finalized and should be available via
\nthe Internet next week or the week after. Our reconstruction
\nplans are for this year and next year only. We will take
\nresponsibility for certain areas only.<\/p>\n
Do you have plans for children orphaned by the tsunami?<\/p>\n
There were some psychologists and nurses who really took care
\nof some children with trauma and mental problems. But so far, we
\nhave no specific projects because the needs were so big that we
\ntried to cover the general needs of all displaced people. There
\nare a lot of specific problems that children have like trauma
\nhealing.<\/p>\n
What is your comment on suggestions that foreigners were out
\nto Christianize Muslim Acehnese?<\/p>\n
I heard some religious (Christian) groups wanted to educate
\nchild victims. Any missionary activities should not be allowed in
\nthis kind of situation. For my organization and our local
\npartners, such a campaign is strictly forbidden. Our members have
\nall signed a code of conduct for humanitarian activities, the
\nsame code of conduct signed by the Red Cross and the Red
\nCrescent.<\/p>\n
Has the suspicion affected your operations?<\/p>\n
I don't expect it to happen because we have not had problems
\nanywhere else. We work in Bangladesh, Afghanistan and many other
\nMuslim countries and it has always worked out fine.<\/p>\n
But, should there be fears, we have to take time out and
\nexplain the principles of our engagement, that no evangelization
\nor missionary activities are permissible during humanitarian
\noperations.<\/p>\n
How long do you think you will stay in Aceh?<\/p>\n
I would think at least two years, and then we will consider
\nthe resources we have. We also have a principle that if we are
\nengaged in a relief operation, we must also participate in the
\nreconstruction and development. So, it may very well be that we
\nwill stay there for three years.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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