Corruption, one of many obstacles in post-tsunami aid distribution<\/p>\n
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Meulaboh<\/p>\n
Even during the most desperate hour of need, there are those who
\nstill think only of themselves.<\/p>\n
\"Poltak\" alit from a government ambulance loaded with
\nmedicines and food aid from the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI-P).<\/p>\n
The government staffer in his late 30s approached a PDI-P
\nlegislator and reported that the aid was ready to be loaded onto
\na small aircraft, which would transport it from Medan's Polonia
\nairport to Meulaboh, West Aceh. Ninety percent of Meulaboh was
\ndestroyed by Sunday's tsunami.<\/p>\n
Poltak ordered the ambulance driver to take the vehicle to the
\ntarmac, where the aircraft was about to park, then asked The
\nJakarta Post for help.<\/p>\n
Later, four government staffers arrived to help prepare the
\naid as the legislator, Yasonna H. Laoly, who represented PDI-P
\nleader Megawati Soekarnoputri, watched from a distance.<\/p>\n
All the medicines and food aid, packed in dozens of small
\ncardboard boxes, were unloaded from the ambulance -- except for a
\nbox of a popular isotonic drink and another unidentified box,
\nwhich allegedly held medicine.<\/p>\n
After filling out a form, Poltak reported back to Yasonna that
\nthe job was done and left. The legislator had no idea that a
\nsmall portion of his party's aid had been stolen as the ambulance
\nleft the scene.<\/p>\n
This incident shows how corruption, no matter what the
\nsituation, prevails, even during the distribution of aid for
\ntsunami victims.<\/p>\n
The problem is one of the many that occurs during aid
\ndistribution to victims in Aceh. Transportation is another major
\nproblem.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, food, medicines and other supplies were piling up
\nat the Air Force hangar near Polonia, where the aid distribution
\ncommand post was set up.<\/p>\n
The aid could not be transported immediately due to the
\nlimited number of airplanes and helicopters, as well as Polonia's
\nlimited capacity.<\/p>\n
As the tsunami swept through many cities, villages and
\nkampongs along the Acehnese coast, the government has been forced
\nto prioritize aid distribution to the most populated cities first
\n-- which has left thousands of victims waiting and wanting.<\/p>\n
Even in some cities with a significant population, like
\nMeulaboh, the aid could not be distributed due to damaged roads
\nand bridges, as well as Tjut Nyak Dhien airport, some 20
\nkilometers outside the city.<\/p>\n
Only the pilots of small aircraft were able to land at the
\nairport; helicopters could land anywhere but their numbers were
\ntoo few and the distance to Meulaboh from Medan was quite far. It
\ntakes an hour for a small airplane to cover the distance, and
\nmuch longer for a helicopter, which meant more fuel -- of which
\nthere is a dire shortage.<\/p>\n
The transportation problem was compounded by those in the
\nfield. In many cases, the local government was not functioning,
\nas many officials numbered among the dead, not at 80,000 and
\nstill rising.<\/p>\n
The problems have left many refugees without aid, even as of
\nFriday, nearly a week after the disaster wreaked additional havoc
\non the war-torn province.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military has been the most effective
\norganization thus far, but even they were in sore need of trucks
\nand helicopters.<\/p>\n
In Meulaboh, only TNI Infantry 623 from Banjarmasin, South
\nKalimantan, were able to transport and guard the aid from Tjut
\nNyak Dhien airport to Meulaboh. The infantry unit, which was
\nstationed near the airport and were in Aceh to quell the
\nseparatist Free Aceh Movement, is now part of the massive
\nhumanitarian drive to help the survivors of the Aceh quake.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/corruption-one-of-many-obstacles-in-post-tsunami-aid-distribution-1447893297",
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