The government of Indonesia is asking aid groups not involved in reconstruction to leave areas affected by the 26th December quake-tsunami disaster, agencies reported on Monday. However, the government emphasised that foreign help is still needed in the tsunami-ravaged provincial capitol of Banda Aceh.

"We've already gotten a letter of endorsement from the minister of health, so we think that we'll be one of the agencies that will be invited to stay," International Aid President Myles Fish told the Mission Network News (MNN) during a recent interview.

One of many agencies that have provided relief to the victims of last year’s catastrophic disaster, International Aid reports that it has to date delivered $11 million in aid and has started trauma counselling training. Staff members also plan to begin medical equipment repair training, a ministry that is expected to have a lasting spiritual impact.

"The training programs...are particularly effective because that gives us long-term, face-to-face contact and the opportunity to get to know people and share our faith," Fish says. "So we're full of anticipation."

Fish said his ministry has no plans to leave the area.

"But we'd appreciate people praying that the door would stay open for us," he added.

In January, several Indonesian officials, including the vice president, expressed unease over the large number of foreign troops involved in the relief effort in southern Asia, indicating their desire to see them gone by the end of March. Shortly afterwards, however, the nation's defense minister toned down his country's reluctance to host foreign troops helping in relief efforts, saying there is no deadline for the troops to be out.

"We would like to emphasise that March 26th is not a deadline for involvement of foreign military personnel in the relief effort," Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said after meeting U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz in Jakarta.

However, according to AsiaNews, Islamic militants said that they would tolerate U.S. presence "so long as it is justified by humanitarian reasons" but if "there are any secret agents among them, Allah will destroy the U.S.".

Similarly, AP reported that Dien Syamsuddin, secretary-general of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas, warned against attempts by some Christian aid workers to evangelise among survivors of last month’s devastating quake-tsunami disaster.

"All non-governmental organisations, either domestic or international, with hidden agendas coming here with humanitarian purposes but instead proselytising, this is what we do not like," said the notable Muslim leader.

"This is a reminder. Do not do this in this kind of situation," Syamsuddin continued. "The Muslim community will not remain quiet. This a clear statement, and it is serious."

Sensitive over foreign involvement in the humanitarian effort, Indonesia insisted in January that foreign aid workers in Aceh be accompanied by army escorts despite the talk about a cease-fire—a move that relief groups feared would hinder their work.

As of efforts continue in South Asia’s most devastated regions, AP reports that the official death toll from the Boxing Day tsunami ranges from 174,024 to 182,340, while the number of missing ranges from 107,081 to 129,838 — with most presumed dead. In Indonesia, the official death toll ranges from 126,296 to 127,420, while the number missing ranges from 93,837-116,368.





Kenneth Chan
Ecumenical Press