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.