Helping Aceh: What works and what does not<\/p>\n
Simon G. Bell, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A team of international scientists studying the effects of the
\ntsunami in Banda Aceh recently reported in a Seattle newspaper
\nthat the initial announcements relating to the height and speed
\nof the tsunami were significantly understated.<\/p>\n
The team found the tsunami's height along the coast south of
\nBanda Aceh, the area closest to the earthquake and worst hit by
\nthe disaster, was about 24 metres above sea level, with \"run-ups\"
\non inland slopes exceeding 30 metres. The average speed of the
\nwaves on shore was 13.7 metres per second.<\/p>\n
This new information certainly helps to further explain the
\nwidespread devastation seen in Aceh.<\/p>\n
We are now moving into the seventh week of the international
\nresponse to support Aceh and North Sumatra. Throughout this time,
\nboth the domestic and international response to this tragedy has
\nbeen inspiring.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, however, sometimes goodwill can create more
\nproblems and can hinder the effort to stabilize a disaster rather
\nthan assist the very people it has been sent to help. Due to a
\nlack of clear communication by the government and international
\nrelief agencies as to what is actually needed, we have frequently
\nseen the reports of clothes rotting in the rain and hundreds of
\nboxes of instant noodles still in warehouses because there is
\ninsufficient fresh water to cook them.<\/p>\n
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) through
\nthe Indonesian Red Cross has been in Aceh for the past six years
\nand is one of the international agencies that has made the
\nbiggest impact to the emergency situation. Recently, upon his
\nreturn from a one-month trip to Banda Aceh, Martin Unternaehrer
\n(spokesman for the ICRC in Aceh) gave a first-hand update on the
\nsituation in the field.<\/p>\n
Primarily there are two directions corporations and private
\nindividuals can take with regards to contributing to the disaster
\nrecovery and rebuilding of the island. The simplest way is to
\nchoose an international organization that is already working in
\nthe province and donate funds directly to this organization. If,
\nhowever, there are concerns a large percentage of the funds
\ndonated may be lost in administration costs or there is a strong
\ndesire to be more directly involved in the effort to support the
\nAcehnese, Unternaehrer made the following suggestions to ensure
\nthe aid and donations collected can be distributed with minimal
\ndisruption:<\/p>\n
o Food, clothing and sanitary packs should be pre-packed in
\nsuitable portions (family packs) for immediate distribution and
\nbe packaged not only for transportation to Aceh but ensure the
\npackaging is sufficiently durable to withstand being loaded and
\nunloaded into trucks or boats several times.<\/p>\n
o Basic professional kits to provide tools to assist in
\nrebuilding economic activities such as fishing kits, hairdressing
\nsets and sewing kits are extremely useful. The important issue
\nhere is to ensure the kits are very basic and can be packaged and
\ndistributed in bulk easily.<\/p>\n
o Ensure the food and clothing collected is appropriate. There
\nhave been significant donations of Western clothes with sizes
\nthat are too big for the Acehnese. Also check that the food you
\nare sending is actually part of the diet of the Acehnese or at
\nthe least can be eaten without requiring clean water or cooking
\nutensils.<\/p>\n
If individuals or companies decide to be directly involved,
\nthe most effective way of moving forward is to find a
\nknowledgeable and trustworthy partner already operating on the
\nground. Once you have chosen your partner you will also need to
\nconsider the following issues:<\/p>\n
1 Find a location or individual village that you want to
\nassist that has not already had assistance from other
\ninternational or domestic agencies.<\/p>\n
2 Meet with the community leaders or head of the village and
\nfind out what is needed and coordinate all activities.<\/p>\n
3 Keep the authorities informed of all your activities and
\nensure that your intentions are clearly stated and understood.<\/p>\n
4 Verify all your information through your own people.
\nAlthough, the \"posko system\" that is already established has been
\na reliable source of information and coordination because of the
\nmassive loss of government employees, information and
\ncoordination has been extremely difficult to obtain.<\/p>\n
5 Distribute the aid you bring as fairly as possible to ensure
\na sense of natural justice within the communities you are
\nhelping.<\/p>\n
6 Ensure you keep track of all aid provided and be able to
\nreport who, where and how the community has benefited should the
\nneed arise.<\/p>\n
7 Ensure that any construction or building projects you fund
\nor develop do not add to the confusion or have the potential to
\nadd conflict to the community you are operating in.<\/p>\n
8 Remember that not just physical buildings and infrastructure
\nhave been lost. There have been massive human losses and capacity
\nin areas such as education. Aceh has lost many thousands of
\nteachers and trainers; it is therefore equally important, to
\ndevelop the human resources Aceh so desperately requires.<\/p>\n
There are two groups of survivors among the people of Aceh.
\nThe first group, have adopted the negative opinion that the
\ntsunami was sent by Allah to punish the people for their sins.
\nThe second group has adopted the more positive view that they
\nhave been chosen by Allah to survive because of their good deeds.
\nWhatever rationalizations are made by the Acehnese what is clear
\nis that they must be involved in the re-development process but
\nshould not be the only party involved.<\/p>\n
An issue that has been consistently discussed over the past
\nsix weeks is how the conflict in Aceh between the Indonesian
\ngovernment and GAM will be affected by the relief and
\nreconstruction effort.<\/p>\n
The planned establishment of the Aceh Authority Board to
\noversee and coordinate the reconstruction of Aceh was intended to
\nbegin functioning on March 26 according to presidential spokesman
\nAndy Mallarangeng. The Board would have included both formal and
\ninformal Acehnese leaders to ensure Aceh's reconstruction was
\ninline with local values and culture It appears, unfortunately,
\nthis plan will not be implemented because it is seen as an
\nunnecessary addition to the local government already in place in
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
This is a significant setback in the effort to reunify the
\ncountry and to work with the Acehnese in creating a peaceful
\nsolution to past conflict.<\/p>\n
Perhaps it is best to dwell on a final point briefly mentioned
\nearlier in this article; the need for short-term emergency aid
\nthat helps the needy with immediate effect has predominantly been
\nhandled by the Indonesian and international agencies already
\noperating in Aceh.<\/p>\n
I would, however, like to re-emphasize that the longer-term
\naid currently being planned, needs to focus on children who have
\nlost their family, education and employment. This is one of the
\nharder challenges which may be neglected if it is not
\nspecifically focused on by the various aid organizations and the
\nIndonesian government.<\/p>\n
The writer is currently in Indonesia conducting a short-term
\nresearch assignment for SAGRIC International, an Australian-based
\naid consultancy operating in Indonesia. He can be reached at
\ns.g.bell@lycos.com.<\/p>",
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