Appeal for displaced persons

JAKARTA: The United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Indonesia, Bo Asplund, has launched a consolidated interagency appeal (CAP 2002) for internally displaced persons in Indonesia, currently estimated at over 1 million people.

The humanitarian community in Indonesia -- in this case consisting of seven UN agencies and 10 international NGOs -- is appealing to the international community for a total of US$40.75 million in assistance.

About $11.29 million of the aid is expected to be used in the health sector and $2.31 million for education.

The appeal covers the provinces of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Central Sulawesi, Irian Jaya, Maluku, North Maluku and West Kalimantan.

While CAP 2002 focuses specifically on the needs of the internally displaced population, resident and host community needs are also being addressed.

"The Indonesian government has the primary responsibility for the displaced, and the humanitarian community has the responsibility to assist the government in this enormous and extremely complex task," Bo Asplund said.

CAP 2002 was established in Jakarta on Nov. 27. On the same day in Geneva and six donor capitals -- Brussels, Copenhagen, Helsinki, London, Tokyo and Washington -- the UN launched 18 appeals from 18 countries and regions from Afghanistan to Uganda with the theme "Reaching the Vulnerable"'. -- JP