Govt says emergency over, begins Aceh reconstruction

Urip Hudiono and Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

With the emergency relief stage in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam officially declared to have ended, the government will now commence with rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the tsunami-stricken province, which includes the establishment of relocation barracks for refugees.

"We will continue providing any emergency relief efforts that are still needed, but we can say that the (emergency relief) stage is now behind us," Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, Alwi Shihab, told reporters on Wednesday.

He said the government will continue emergency relief efforts by providing 20 medium-sized boats capable of carrying 50 to 75 tones of goods and supplies to areas in the province still isolated by the Dec. 26 catastrophe.

"The boats will sail from Banda Aceh along the province's western coast to the city of Meulaboh," he said. "They are provided to replace foreign helicopters that had previously been used to reach the areas."

Alwi said the government has also requested foreign countries to replace all military personnel in their medical staff and air crew with civilians.

But Alwi denied the request would be an implementation of a deadline for foreign military to leave the country, saying that it would just be in accordance with the government's timeline for the reconstruction process in Aceh.

"We still welcome any foreign military who would like to help us out, and express our fullest gratitude to them," he said. "However, the government would like to see that we can stand on our own feet and resolve all the matters in Aceh by ourselves."

On the relocation process, Alwi said a number of relocation barracks would be built throughout affected areas in the province.

The barracks -- built for displaced persons to temporarily stay before being resettled into rebuilt areas -- will be provided with better sanitation and water facilities.

"We will build 374 relocation barracks, or half of the total, by Feb. 15," he said. "We expect to complete the rest by the end of this month."

Banta Gading, a displaced person at the TVRI complex in Mata Ie, Banda Aceh where some 4,406 people are sheltering, said he did not want to move into the barracks and wanted to return to his own house.

"I want to get back to my own house soon, but it's badly damaged and impossible to live in. It would be better if the government just assisted us with building materials like cement, bricks and wood so we can rebuild our houses," the 52-year-old told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Another displaced person, 42-year-old Hasbullah, warmly greeted the plan to build the barracks since many refugees no longer have places to live.

"Until now, no one has asked us about the barracks. If the barracks are ready, we'll move in because we have nothing left. If there's a place to live in, then it will be better," he said.

Responding to the possibility that some displaced persons would refuse to move in to the barracks, Alwi assured them the government would try its best to fulfill their needs and wishes, as long as they are in line with the prepared reconstruction blueprint.

"Refugees, for instance, will not be allowed to relocate and then resettle in areas within 300 to 400 meters of the shoreline to ensure their own safety from similar disasters in the future."

Alwi added the government would start registering all displaced persons and cataloging their skills in order to help find them temporary jobs during the reconstruction period.

"We are planning to provide women with sewing machines and fishermen with appropriate equipment, so the refugees can start rebuilding their lives immediately," he said. More stories on Pages 2,5,6,19