Sutiyoso to visit Aceh to lend assistance

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

In his capacity as chairman of the Association of Provincial Administrations (APPSI), Governor Sutiyoso will take a one-day trip to Aceh on Wednesday to deliver relief funds and aid.

"In his second visit to Aceh in the wake of the devastating calamity last week, the Governor will focus mainly on providing necessary equipment to relief workers to help expedite the process of cleaning up rubble and evacuating dead bodies," City secretary Ritola Tasmaya said on Monday.

Ritola said Sutiyoso would be accompanied by Gorontalo Governor Fadel Muhamad, Southeast Sulawesi Governor Ali Masi and West Kalimantan Governor Usman Jafar.

"They will donate 50,000 body bags, 30,000 rubber gloves, boots and masks," he said.

City spokesman Catur Laswanto added that the governors would not deliver food aid, as the media had reported that food donations were piling up due to a poor distribution system.

As of Monday, the administration had raised Rp 11.6 billion (US$1.28 million) in total aid, or about Rp 9.6 billion in cash and Rp 2 billion in clothing and staple foods.

Over 80,000 people have been killed in Aceh, but it is feared the toll will rise to 100,000; meanwhile, refugees at shelters across Aceh and North Sumatra number over 200,000.

So far, Jakarta has dispatched 120 medical workers from the City Health Agency to assist in relief efforts in Aceh.

"We will send another 140 medical workers from the agency as reinforcement," Catur said.

He added that Sutiyoso had ordered Assistant to the City Secretary for Development Affairs Hari Sandjojo to gather hoes and shovels to be sent to relief workers in Aceh.

"He has also ordered City Public Works Agency head Fodly Misbach to look into the possibility of sending heavy equipment to Aceh," he said.