Relief aid stuck in port

The central government is being urged to give the North Sumatra Governor the authority to issue import permits for containers of humanitarian aid currently piling up at the port of Belawan, an official says.

On Thursday, officials from North Sumatra's Customs Office were still waiting for 1,458 containers storing food, drinking water, medical supplies and clothing and another 117 holding vehicles to be issued permits by the Ministry Of Trade.

Speaking from Medan, the North Sumatra Disaster Prevention Coordination Unit secretary Nurlisa Ginting said the permits were crucial if the relief aid was to be distributed to disaster-hit Aceh and Nias.

A circular signed by Trade Minister Mari E. Pangestu, dated Jan 11, stipulates that all relief aid imported by ship needed central government clearance before it could be distributed.

Nurlisa said the import permit procedures took a long time to complete, which meant the aid could not immediately be distributed to the disaster areas.

She said the North Sumatra provincial administration would write to the central government to be given the authority to issue import permits.

Belawan Customs Office head Tambos M. Naiborhu confirmed his office did not have the authority to release the aid without the Ministry of Trade's permits. (JP/Apriadi Gunawan)