12 regencies yet to report on fund usage
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Nangroe Aceh Darussalam
The Aceh provincial administration disbursed on Wednesday the third batch of humanitarian aid totaling Rp 25.7 billion (US$3 million) allocated for those widowed or disabled during the crack down on the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), despite the fact that 12 regencies have yet to submit their accountability reports on the use of funds disbursed in the first two phases.
"We decided to distribute the aid anyway because we are concerned about those people," the head of the provincial Social Affairs Agency, Sulaiman Daudi, told The Jakarta Post.
"We have transferred the money and they have received it."
Daudi said that out of the province's 14 regencies, only Pidie and Bireuen had submitted accountability reports.
The agency disbursed Rp 6.6 billion and Rp 19.1 billion in the first and second stages respectively.
Since the beginning of the military offensive against GAM rebels, 1,530 people have been rendered disabled and 6,440 women have lost their husbands.
Each disabled person has been allotted Rp 2 million while each widow is to receive Rp 2.5 million.
Police say they are aware of the possible misuse of the humanitarian aid as the provincial administration has refused to provide data on the fund disbursement.
A non-governmental organization, the Solidarity for Anti- Corruption Society (SAMAK), claims there are hundreds of corruption cases involving billions of rupiah in state funds that have not been investigated. Misuse also reportedly occurred in the government aid allocated for the disabled and widows.
In response to the reports, the central government has pledged to take stern measures against officials found guilty of misusing the funds, although it claims that the amount of the money misused is small.
Funds for people who fall victim to the war is part of the humanitarian operation, which also includes the handling of displaced people.
The overall operation in Aceh includes humanitarian aid, a military offensive, the empowerment of local administrations and law enforcement.
As of Wednesday, the Social Affairs Agency recorded 11,486 internally displaced people from eight regencies in Aceh.
Burhanuddin, a spokesman for the agency in charge of refugees, said the displaced people were not prepared to return to their villages as they still felt unsafe.
"Although security has been restored in their villages, the refugees are still reluctant to return home since there is no guarantee that the situation will last," said
Among the displaced people, 4,671 people from 1,062 families are staying in shelters in South Aceh, 2,626 people from 713 families in Aceh Jaya and 1,722 people from 286 families in East Aceh.