Japan troops bid sayonara to Aceh<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro and Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
Japan withdrew on Sunday its 960-strong disaster relief mission
\nfrom tsunami-devastated Aceh, marking the end of the country's
\nlargest overseas deployment since World War II.<\/p>\n
The Japan Ground Self Defense Force Disaster Relief for
\nIndonesia (GDRI) troops bode sayonara to the Acehnese people in a
\nmodest ceremony at Sultan Iskandar Muda air base.<\/p>\n
\"The Japanese government considers that the emergency phase is
\nover, our task here is finished,\" Japan GDRI spokesman Lt. Col.
\nKadashi Inaba said after the ceremony.<\/p>\n
United States troops completed their humanitarian relief
\nmission earlier this month.<\/p>\n
The U.S., however, maintains the presence of the UNSN Mercy
\nhospital off the coast of Aceh. Around 200 operations have been
\nperformed aboard the ship since its arrival a month ago.<\/p>\n
Other foreign countries, including Malaysia, Australia,
\nGermany and France, also sent relief missions to Aceh after an
\nearthquake and killer tidal waves wrecked the province and Nias
\nIsland in North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The deaths of more than 124,000 people were documented after
\nthe catastrophe and more than 110,000 others have been listed as
\nmissing presumed dead.<\/p>\n
Foreign organizations, including two under the United Nations
\nbanner, have been told to leave Aceh by March 26.<\/p>\n
Organizations excluded from the exit list include the World
\nHealth Organization (WHO), United Nations Educational, Scientific
\nand Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Children's
\nFund (UNICEF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
\nIndividual volunteers who have reported their presence will also
\nbe able to continue with relief work.<\/p>\n
The Aceh Police have said they will get tough with foreign
\nmissions that fail to report their presence by the deadline.<\/p>\n
A full GDRI team arrived in Banda Aceh on Jan. 25, when it
\nbegan full-fledged activities by providing medical supplies,
\ntreating the sick and working to prevent malaria infection.<\/p>\n
\"I know there are many things left to do, but I guess the
\nIndonesian government in cooperation with civilian volunteers is
\nable to carry on,\" Inaba said.<\/p>\n
Japan arrived to help tsunami survivors in mid-January and
\nstarted to provide medical services, including a vaccination
\ncampaign only three days after it finished setting up emergency
\nhospitals in Miboh and Lamara, both in Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
Before their departure on Sunday, the GDRI had served about
\n6,000 patients in total, 4,000 of whom were locals in Lamara,
\nwhile the remaining 2,000 were in Miboh.<\/p>\n
\"Some medical staff will remain. We will not commence our
\nmedical activities until March 16,\" Inaba said, adding that on
\nMarch 16 their work would be continued by local officials.<\/p>\n
As part of its relief effort, Japan also provided three ships,
\nfive helicopters and two planes.<\/p>\n
Children -- Page 4<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/japan-troops-bid-sayonara-to-aceh-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }