ICRC to help Aceh victims<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH, Aceh: The International Committee for the Red
\nCross (ICRC) plans to send relief aid to Aceh in the near future
\nfor the families of victims of atrocities occurring over a decade
\nof military operations in the province, a spokesman has said.<\/p>\n
The aid would consist of basic foodstuffs, agricultural
\nequipment, sewing machines and books, said Soesanto, the
\nsecretary-general of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Soesanto was quoted by Antara as saying after accompanying
\nICRI representatives to meet PMI's Aceh chapter here that the
\nplan was proof that the ICRC cared deeply for the fate of the
\nsuffering Acehnese families.<\/p>\n
The closed-door meeting was attended by ICRC head for
\nSoutheast Asia Tony Pfanner, Red Cross Federation and Red
\nCrescent Jakarta representative Herman and Aceh Vice Governor
\nZainuddin AG, who is also the head of PMI's Aceh branch.<\/p>\n
The ICRC aid, Soesanto said, would be distributed to the
\nfamilies of victims of the military operations in the districts
\nof East Aceh, North Aceh and Pidie.<\/p>\n
Aid will also be given to Acehnese workers who had been
\ndeported from Malaysia last August for illegally working in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Soesanto said the ICRC would distribute the aid through its
\nown channels and through local PMI volunteers in the North Aceh
\ntown of Lhokseumawe.<\/p>\n
Vice Governor Zainuddin AG said he welcomed ICRC's commitment
\nto provide humanitarian aid because it would help alleviate the
\nsuffering of the victims' families made worse by the economic
\ncrisis.<\/p>\n
The military operations carried out from 1989 to August 1998
\nare believed to have caused 20,000 children to lose their fathers
\nand to widow 3,000 housewives.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/icrc-to-help-aceh-victims-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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