Security problems disrupt reconstruction work in Calang

Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

Almost a year after the tsunami devastated Aceh, survivors from the decimated city of Calang are still living in makeshift shelters because of the slow pace of reconstruction.

The head of the Aceh and Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency, Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, speaking in Banda Aceh on Tuesday, blaming the lack of progress in rebuilding Calang on security problems in the area.

"Development in Calang is moving slowly. Many non-governmental organizations could not stay there. District heads were asking the organizations for their diesel fuel and contractors were 'approached' by security personnel. I have warned them (district heads and security personnel) not to disrupt reconstruction work," Kuntoro said.

He said there were only two non-governmental organizations still in Calang: Samaritan Purse and Habitat for Humanity.

Calang, located some 130 kilometers south of Aceh's provincial capital Banda Aceh, became known as the "city of the dead" after the tsunami destroyed nearly every building in the city, leaving more than 6,000 of the 7,300 residents dead or missing.

Kuntoro said Calang remained difficult to reach because of a lack of infrastructure and transportation, and that security problems posed another challenge for reconstruction.

He said there have been reports from the area of people taking food aid gathered by NGOs for tsunami survivors.

"Those taking the food aid were wearing uniforms. This problem must be straightened out," he said.

The reconstruction agency plans to allocate Rp 518 billion (US$51.8 million) for work in Calang in 2006, with another Rp 1 trillion expected from various donors.

"I have asked for the security problems to be completely sorted out," Kuntoro said.

Kuntoro said the agency was facing similar problem on Nias island in North Sumatra, where an earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale killed hundreds of people on March 28 this year.

"Food aid from NGOs has been looted. People have transported cement to the island but the cement disappeared the next day," Kuntoro said.

To deal with these and other problems holding up reconstruction work, the agency plans to open 10 new offices in Aceh to monitor the progress of the work.

He said offices would be opened in Langsa, Simeulu, Calang, Meulaboh, Singkil and Aceh Besar, among other areas.