Conditions in Aceh 'slightly improving'

Conditions in Aceh 'slightly improving'

The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Jakarta

Two weeks after a quake-triggered tidal wave washed away many
parts of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, the government claimed on
Sunday a steady improvement in the condition of survivors and
cities affected by the tsunamis.

In the first coordination meeting between government agencies
involved in relief efforts in tsunami-hit regions, chaired by
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for
People's Welfare Alwi Shihab said that a substantial number of
bodies had been retrieved and properly buried, while distribution
of food, medicines and other basic needs had reached most parts
of tsunami-hit regions.

Alwi said that some 48,000 bodies had been buried while
another 20,000 people who are presumed dead have not yet been
recovered from underneath piled up debris. He said that about
48,000 people were still missing since the Dec. 26 tsunami
disaster.

"Our estimate is close to that of the United Nations, which
puts the death toll at between 79,000 and 120,000," Alwi told a
video conference. Also attending the meeting were Vice President
Jusuf Kalla and Minister of Health Fadillah Supari.

Alwi said that although aid had been distributed to most parts
of the affected areas, logjams still prevailed especially at
Halim Perdana Kusumah Airport in Jakarta, Polonia Airport in
Medan and Hang Nadim Airport in Batam.

"There was an aircraft carrying aid from Belgium bound for
Medan, but it had to go back to the country as the airport in
Medan was crowded with commercial and military aircraft carrying
aid," said Alwi.

Responding to the situation, Susilo said that he had secured
permission from Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to
use Malaysian airports as transitory bases for foreign aircraft
carrying aid.

Alwi said that to provide survivors with temporary housing,
the government had started the construction of shelters that
could accommodate between 8,000 and 20,000 people, and were
provided with better security measures and sanitation as well as
better accessibility to aid workers.

In worst-hit Banda Aceh, life is more vibrant than days before
with business activities in Lambaro Market, one of the city's
economic hub, almost returning to normal.

A variety of goods, which had earlier been offered at highly
inflated prices, are now available at relatively lower prices.
Beef, for example, which was previously sold at Rp 60,000 per
kilogram is now offered at Rp 55,000, its price before the
tsunami hit the area.

In some parts of Banda Aceh, a number of inter-city buses
offered their services although for astronomically inflated
fares.

"The fare is considerably higher because we have to traverse
routes less traveled before the tsunamis, and the trip becomes
more difficult. We also have to purchase fuel at much higher
prices," a driver was quoted by Antara as saying.

Earlier on Saturday, Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said
that prior to the establishment of the United Nations-sponsored
command center for international humanitarian efforts, Australian
and Singaporean troops in Aceh would be at the helm of the relief
efforts.

Emerging from a meeting with his Australian counterpart Robert
Hill on Saturday, Juwono said that troops from these countries
would play a leading role, as they were the first foreign forces
that arrived in the tsunami-hit province.

Juwono could not foresee how long military assistance from
neighboring countries would prevail, but "it will be a long-term
cooperation".

However, Juwono said that the Indonesian Military (TNI) would
still play a supervisory role on all foreign relief efforts in
Aceh. "Such a role is required as the TNI is obliged to maintain
security in Aceh," he said.