Regional council criticizes govt aid bureaucracy

Regional council criticizes govt aid bureaucracy

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Acehnese members of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD)
complained about the lengthy procedures applied by the
government-sanctioned disaster-relief team for tsunami victims to
receive aid.

They also criticized the poor performance of the Cabinet
ministers in managing the humanitarian aid in Aceh and North
Sumatra.

"In some areas in Aceh, people must bring a letter from the
village head to get food. In fact, many village heads have gone.
Why should the procedure be so lengthy in an emergency
situation?" DPD member Helmi Mahera Al-Mujahid told the press
here on Friday.

In some places, he said, the relief team was willing to hand
out aid only to groups of 30 refugees. "People will not get aid
if they are not part of a group," he added.

Helmi and fellow DPD member Malik Raden had just returned from
Aceh, where a powerful quake and tsunamis on Dec. 26 devastated
parts of the province and North Sumatra.

Some 98,000 people died and hundreds of thousands were left
homeless in the calamity. Two Acehnese DPD members, Mediati Hafni
Hanum and Adnan, were injured in the disaster.

The magnitude of the disaster and the casualties it caused has
united the world. Donor countries have pledged US$4 billion to
the affected nations and committed to long-term rehabilitation
and reconstruction.

Helmi said he appreciated the sincerity of foreign
organizations and countries helping the Acehenese. Taking as an
example, Helmi said the United States had given a quick response
to a demand for helicopters for aid distribution.

"At the same time, the government-sanctioned team keeps on
organizing meetings," he said.

Malik Raden, meanwhile, regretted that humanitarian aid could
only be enjoyed by people taking refuge in tents, but not those
staying at relative's homes.

Malik, meanwhile, said he and Helmi had helped with the
distribution of aid to isolated places in West Aceh and Aceh Raya
regencies while the government team had failed to do so.

He suggested that the government improve teams to evacuate
dead bodies. "President Susilo must improve the relief team," he
added.

Responding to the concern, DPD's coordinator for affected
areas Ichsan Loulembah said on Friday that the DPD would further
discuss steps to be taken.

Ichsan said the government lacked coordination to handle the
aftermath of the disaster. He criticized the work of government
officials in disaster-hit areas.