Relief post criticized over cash donations in N. Sumatra

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan

Acehnese refugees currently in camps in Medan, North Sumatra, have begun to complain about the lack of aid for them, despite all the donations that have been pouring in from around the world.

Shinta, who is at the Aceh Sepakat refugee camp, did not have the courage to speak up when the officials from the emergency relief center prevented a donor from giving money directly to the refugees.

"There was a man who came here to give out money to us directly last Saturday.

"He told me to write the names of people in need of money, but just as I started writing, an officer from the relief post arrived and told the man he could only give his money to the government relief center," Shinta told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Shinta, who hails form Banda Aceh -- one of the worst-hit areas -- added that since she arrived at the camp, there had never been any money given to them by relief center officials.

As a result, she explained, several donors had managed to bypass the officials and secretly donated some money to the refugees.

"One religious leader gave me Rp 10,000 (US$1.1) and my daughter received Rp 5,000 from another person, but we've never received any money from the relief post officials," Shinta said

Shinta added that she and the other refugees were well aware that the relief center received cash donations from a lot of donors, but the money has never been distributed to any refugees.

"Why would they (government relief officials) take the money that is expressly intended for the refugees? It is not their money," lamented Shinta, who lost five members of her family in the tsunami disaster, which prompted regular citizens from all over the world to donate huge sums of money, as well as many governments that have pledged billions of dollars worth of aid for tsunami survivors.

Another refugee from Banda Aceh, Jupriadi, complained that he could not return to his hometown to see his parents because he was not given any money by the refugee camp officer.

The 20-year-old decided to return to Banda Aceh after he heard that his parents were still alive. He was separated from them during the catastrophic turmoil on Dec. 26.

"I heard that both of my parents were safe in Banda Aceh. That's why I must go there, but the officers here won't even give me money for the bus fare," he said.

Jupriadi added that he shared a similar experience with Shinta, as he witnessed many donors who had come to the camps to give money, but the money never reached them.

He said that he received Rp 20,000 from one kind person earlier, but that money was put straight in his hands, without the knowledge of the relief officials.

Another story was told by Ali Umar of Meulaboh. The 41-year- old has not received any money from donors or relief officials.

"I don't even have enough money to buy a cigarette. Thankfully, someone gave me some cigarettes," he said, while displaying his last three cigarettes.

Responding to the complaints, the Aceh Sepakat relief center treasurer, T. Hasballah, dismissed allegations that his colleagues were holding back the donated money meant for the refugees.

Hasballah proceeded to explain that he had not received very much money from donors, and so the money could not be given out to the refugees. He admitted that the center had received around Rp 6 million, but that was all used for other purposes.

"We used the money to pay the salaries of the workers here, including night watchmen and cleaners as well as the cost of bus fares for our volunteers," Hasballah told The Post.

According to Hasballah, the number of refugees living in the Sepukat camp was starting to decline from a high of 310 people, it had dropped to 70.

"They have left to search for their relatives in other areas. Some went to Pematang Siantar in North Sumatra and South Aceh and also Kuala Simpang in Aceh," he said.