Ministers visit Aceh to assess problems<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Aceh\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
High-powered government officials led by Coordinating Minister
\nfor People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, made an unscheduled visit to
\nAceh on Sunday to tackle problems resulting from the declaration
\nof martial law and the military operation.<\/p>\n
The visit, the first since the renewed hostilities between
\ngovernment and rebel forces began last Monday was now seen as
\nvery vital because the government apparently did not make
\nadequate preparations to tackle the many problems that have
\nadversely affected many Acehnese civilians.<\/p>\n
The government officials saw first hand the war's impact on
\nthe supply of basic commodities, public transportation, public
\nservices and education activities.<\/p>\n
After the first seven days of military operations to quell the
\nFree Aceh Movement (GAM), basic commodity prices have been on the
\nrise as distribution lines to the province have been paralyzed by
\nthe war. Most public transportation has ceased entirely and
\neducation activities in many areas have been halted as hundreds
\nof school buildings were burned down by unidentified arsonists.<\/p>\n
In dealing with the threat of famine from the food shortages,
\nJusuf said that the government would immediately distribute basic
\ncommodities to war-torn areas via sea and land.<\/p>\n
Minister of National Education Abdul Malik Fajar tried to calm
\nstudents and their teachers, by saying the government would soon
\nrehabilitate all school buildings torched over the last week
\nassist with emergency classes for all students scheduled to take
\nthe upcoming national final exams.<\/p>\n
The other Cabinet members in Aceh were Minister of Health
\nAchmad Sujudi, Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah and
\nMinister of Settlements and Regional Infrastructure Soenarno.<\/p>\n
As the government is facing a daunting task, the United
\nNations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has pledged to extend aid to the
\nprovince, DPA news agency reported.<\/p>\n
With the arrival on Sunday of 20 tons of health kits and
\n\"emergency school\" kits in Jakarta, UNICEF kicked off an
\nemergency assistance program for Aceh.<\/p>\n
A flight carrying hospital equipment and pharmaceuticals from
\nCopenhagen, Denmark arrived in Jakarta on Sunday morning and was
\nto continue Tuesday up to Banda Aceh, said UNICEF spokesman John
\nBudd.<\/p>\n
He said the emergency schools would consist of 50 tents with
\nenough school-in-a-box kits for 16,000 students.<\/p>\n
UNICEF has warned of a looming humanitarian crisis in Aceh,
\nwhere 23,000 children have already been displaced as a result of
\nprevious fighting in a 27-year-old separatist struggle led by
\nGAM.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ministers-visit-aceh-to-assess-problems-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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