Women victimized in Aceh

BANDA ACEH: More than 14,000 Acehnese women have fallen victim to the armed conflict since 2001, Aceh deputy governor Azwar Abubakar said.

Recently opening a psychological rehabilitation program for women traumatized by the hostilities, Abubakar expressed hope they would receive fair attention from all parties.

"We understand that women who lost their husbands or other family members in the violence have been traumatized. We hope that, through this program, their psychological condition will improve," he said on Saturday.

Organizing committee head Yusran MSI said at least 760 women had gone through the program since 2001.

Yusran said women and children suffered the most from the war in Aceh, and the program aimed to restore the victims' spirit and motivation so that they could lead a normal life. -- Antara