Action by Churches Together (ACT)
ACT Situation Report
South and south east Asia/Indonesia 28/05
November 1, 2005


Indonesia

Information provided by ACT members in Indonesia: Yayasan Tanggul 
Benkana Indonesia (YTBI), Church World Service Indonesia (CWS) and CD 
Bethesda/YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU). Activities cover the period of 
October 1-15, 2005. Information compiled by the information officers of 
the ACT coordination offices in Jakarta and Medan.

General issues

Slow reconstruction work in Aceh

There is a general sense, based on feedback, that reconstruction 
projects in tsunami-devastated Aceh have been too slow over the past ten 
months, leading to frustration among the population. According to 
reports, the sluggish pace of the projects is due to poor coordination 
among aid groups, lack of infrastructure, such as roads and ports, and 
the remoteness of Aceh. All aid groups and non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs) should to work more quickly and in a more 
coordinated manner to get people out of the temporary tents and 
military-style barracks. Many aid groups in Aceh were working on 
parallel programs rather than work together to help Aceh residents. 
Thousands of semi-permanent homes were built in Aceh after the tsunami, 
with some 10,000 houses built for survivors last month.

Many tsunami survivors had previously been living in tents and barrack 
blocks. However, many Acehnese are still living in squalid camps. In 
order to help expedite rebuilding projects, the U.N. will station a 
recovery coordinator in Aceh. The coordinator will be responsible for 
drawing up a six-month plan for the speedy reconstruction of the 
province, including the construction of more homes for tsunami 
survivors. It is hoped that in the next six months, some hundreds of 
thousands of tsunami survivors currently living in tents and barrack 
blocks will be provided with decent houses. The recovery coordinator 
will work together with BRR, the government agency overseeing 
reconstruction and rehabilitation in Aceh and aid groups.

Indonesian army set for second Aceh troop pullout and GAM Disarmament

Indonesia's military (TNI) will begin withdrawing 6,000 more soldiers 
from Aceh this week under the second phase of a landmark peace pact, 
ending one of Asia's longest conflicts. The withdrawal was expected to 
begin in the past few weeks when around 650 troops were to leave the 
province on the same day the armed forces were expecting former rebels 
of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to complete the second phase of handing 
over weapons. In total in the second phase, TNI will withdraw another 10 
battalions, or around 6,000 soldiers. Among those leaving Aceh will be 
units from the army's elite Special Unit (Kopassus).

The first round of decommissioning of GAM weapons in September yielded 
some 240 arms, while Indonesia pulled out 1,500 policemen and around 
6,500 soldiers. Under the Finnish-mediated peace agreement, GAM needs to 
surrender 840 weapons to peace monitors by the end of the year. This is 
to be done in four phases. Indonesia, which had more than 30,000 
soldiers and 15,000 policemen in Aceh before the truce, is required to 
trim its forces to no more than 14,700 soldiers and 9,100 police. Once 
handed over, GAM weapons are destroyed. The 226-strong monitoring 
mission comprising European and Southeast Asian monitors has the task of 
ensuring that the parties stick to the 15 August peace agreement signed 
in Helsinki.

Latest statistics for Aceh, issued 10 October

Total IDPs: 565,384
Dead and buried: 128,806
Missing: 37,066
Total houses destroyed: 179,312

Donors committed to building houses
Total donors: 43
Total houses to be built: 66,027 units

Houses completed
Up to June 2005: 1,110
Up to September 2005: 10,000

ACT members' activities

Material aid


CWS

CWS continued to distribute relief aid in Banda Aceh, Meulaboh and Nias. 
In Banda Aceh, CWS distributed 1,821 health kits, 293 school kits, 97 
baby kits, 37 tarpaulins and 37 rolls of ropes to 1,483 people (383 
households). In Meulaboh, CWS distributed 10 UNICEF family tents to 10 
households and 8 CWS family tents to 5 households. In Nias, CWS 
distributed 20 baby kits, 20 family tents, 330 mosquito nets and, based 
on a needs assessment, 855 school kits to 1,608 beneficiaries in two 
primary schools in Gunung Sitoli and four in Sirombu.


YTBI

YTBI's working group and implementing partners continued to distribute 
non-food and food relief in Aceh Jaya. To celebrate Meugang Day, a 
special occasion for Muslims in Aceh to welcome the fasting month, 
YTBI's working group distributed 12 cows for 12 villages in two 
sub-districts of Aceh Jaya. YTBI's working group also distributed 4 
generators in 4 villages in Aceh Jaya (Padang Lageun, Sawang Lageun, and 
Kuala Ligan) to overcome their difficulties in getting electricity, due 
to the tsunami. Other villages received generators in May. The 
generators are helpful to the people, especially in connection to 
praying during the fasting season.


Health and nutrition

CWS

In Banda Aceh, CWS conducted reproductive health education for the first 
time in Lam Asan, Aceh Besar, attended by 23 women. The activity will be 
conducted on a regular basis every Monday for different groups. CWS 
provided health services in Trienggadeng sub-district, Pidie, to 90 
patients treated; 9 were diagnosed with leprosy. Further steps will be 
taken in providing the patients with prostheses. In collaboration with 
Helen Keller International (HKI), CWS has distributed HKI's products, 
Vitalita (a micronutrient supplement for children under the age of five) 
and fortified soy sauce in three locations in Pidie district. The 
distribution was welcomed by the community. Information on both products 
was also delivered to the mothers.

CWS Nias distributed 18 Interchurch Medical Assistance (IMA) medicine 
boxes to four health centers in Gunung Sitoli. CWS has also provided a 
monitoring format to each health center, and the use of the contents of 
the IMA boxes will be monitored monthly by CWS staff. A total of 81 
children participated in the first wet-feeding program in two villages 
in Sirombu sub district and one village in Mandrehe sub-district. Health 
services, such as anthropometric (bodily) measurements and vitamin 
provision, were conducted for 88 children in villages in Gunung Sitoli 
and Sirombu. The total number of children in the wet-feeding program 
recorded to date is 492 children in Gunung Sitoli and 127 children in 
Sirombu.

YEU

YEU provided regular health services to 262 patients in Banda Aceh and 
60 patients in Lhokseumawe. Common diseases were upper respiratory tract 
infections, headaches, skin ailments, artalgia, anorexia, nerve pain and 
stomach pains. YEU also provided supplementary feeding (fruits, vitamin 
and gelatine) to a kindergarten. Besides the regular program in Lhok 
Seumawe, YEU conducted a three-day cadre training on general health, 
mental health and traditional herbal medicines. No health service 
activities were reported from Meulaboh and Nias.

Livelihood recovery

CWS

CWS Banda Aceh provided training on administration, bookkeeping and 
financial management to women's groups, small entrepreneur groups and 
furniture business groups. CWS Meulaboh has identified six beneficiaries 
in one women's group to assist in Buddha Tzu Chi Camp, Meurebo 
sub-district. Focus group discussions have also been conducted, 
resulting in an agreement that the group will run a small home-based 
business in making cookies and cakes to sell. CWS Nias distributed 
another 21 pigs and supporting materials, such as pails and knives, to 
three husbandry groups in Iraonogaila village, Sirombu. In Mandrehe 
sub-district, farmers have seed-bedded the paddy seeds provided by CWS 
and are preparing the fields for planting. CWS has also provided eight 
additional hoes to the group to accelerate the planting process.

CWS has introduced the life-skills-activity program to heads of 
vocational high schools and stakeholders in three villages in Gunung 
Sitoli. The program was welcomed with a positive response. The 
activities will range from growing seasonal plants to making use of 
yards and unoccupied fields and sewing lessons. For the sewing lessons, 
20 participants from four villages in Gunung Sitoli have registered; 
data cross-checking on the participants will be conducted to see if they 
meet the criteria set by CWS. Another farming group has been formed in 
Sirombu sub-district with seven members in the group and two groups in 
Gunung Sitoli sub-district with 23 members. Types of vegetables to be 
cultivated are spinach, string beans and legumes.

YEU

YEU monitored the established groups and formed new groups for economic 
activities in Banda Aceh and Nias. YEU Banda Aceh formed an agricultural 
group of 30 people and held discussions with IDPs about the possibility 
of a credit union in a village.

YEU Nias discussed needs for sewing groups to support their activities. 
YEU reported that the payments of installments from fishing groups and 
home businesses in Nias is running well. YEU faced a small problem of 
paying their allowances due to structural changes in the group. Bad 
weather has also been reported as another problem in visiting groups for 
monitoring. Community-development programs are being implemented in 
Soepomo camp and Muhammadiyah camp in Nias.

YTBI

In Nias, YTBI's implementing partner (BPB PGID) ordered fingerlings to 
support a fishery group in a village of Mandrehe. Other groups are still 
waiting for chemical fertilizer. In Banda Aceh, YTBI's implementing 
partner (ElPeKa HKBP) formed four groups. Due to the fasting period, 
monthly group meetings in Banda Aceh were postponed until the end of 
October. Lots of group members will be going back to their hometowns to 
gather with families for Idul Fitri. In Meulaboh, YTBI's working group 
facilitated the formation of groups for a community-based livelihood 
initiative (CBLI) in four villages in Samatiga sub-district, Aceh Barat 
Regency. These groups are continuously having routine meetings to 
discuss terms and conditions, job descriptions and group structure. 
YTBI's working group and the community groups worked together to clean 
the area where they are planning to build a village hall and relief 
center in Suak Seumaseh village.

Water and sanitation (WatSan)

CWS

CWS has covered four villages in the installation of a pipeline system 
for CWS's water distribution. CWS is currently installing a public tap 
station in Tunong, Krueng Kala village and has identified a location for 
the water-pressure control station. In Rantau Panjang, Meulaboh, the 
CWS/Norwegian Church Aid water-purification plant produces approximately 
140 cubic meters of clean water per day that is distributed to 26 
distribution points, covering a total of 8,646 people. The construction 
of 13 latrines (out of 22 planned) in Nagan Raya district will be 
completed soon.

YEU

YEU continues to construct water and sanitation facilities in Banda Aceh 
and Lhok Seumawe. In Banda Aceh, YEU, involving skilled local labor, has 
completed the construction of three latrines, a bathroom and a well in 
Lhok Mee. The construction of latrines in Tanah Merah is almost 
finished. Based on its monitoring, YEU has made progress in its 
workshops.

Psychosocial activities

YEU

YEU facilitated Koran readings in two locations in Kayu Jati (attended 
by 15 women) and Tanah Merah (attended by 18 women), discussions and 
pesantren kilat (short course of Islamic studies) with local youth 
clubs. Currently, 25 to 60 children participate in pesantren kilat. In 
Lhoksumawe, YEU coordinated with local officers and kindergartens on the 
rehabilitation of school buildings and on the provision of school 
uniforms for the students. YEU also coordinated with local education 
agencies on the utilization of a children's play site, promoting early 
childhood education. The education itself is facilitated by the 
agencies. YEU handed over sporting equipment (two volleyballs, a set of 
club costumes and a net) to a local youth club.  In Nias, YEU re-checked 
the condition of IDPs in Olora Camp, Gunung Sitoli.

YTBI

YTBI's implementing partners in Banda Aceh, Meulaboh and Nias are 
running psychosocial activities. In Banda Aceh, ElPeKa HKBP run a 
playgroup and extracurricular program for elementary to senior high 
schools. ElPeKa is looking at the possibility of inviting trainers from 
North Sumatra to prepare a training for trainers (TOT). In Meulaboh, 
YTBI's working group performed traditional Acehnese dances at a Meugang 
Day celebration. In Nias, Handal Mahardika Foundation continued its 
educational, mental recovery and local capacity program. Handal 
Mahardika also held a gender and social analysis training.

Shelter

CWS

CWS has almost completed the construction of 32 houses in Meue village, 
Pidie district. So far, 30 houses have been fitted with corrugated iron 
roofs, and the walls have been completed on 26 houses.  The construction 
of 14 houses is underway in Madula village, with 8 foundations completed 
so far. CWS plans to build 320 houses in Pidie, 300 houses in Nagan 
Raya, 200 houses in Nias (100 houses in Gunung Sitoli and 100 houses in 
Sirombu).

YEU

YEU is constructing houses in Banda Aceh and in some villages. In Tanah 
Merah, YEU has built one house frame and a frame for small shops and is 
building a foundation in Blang Ulam. YEU reported that the beneficiaries 
were enthusiastic about continuing the cooperation with YEU in the 
shelter program.

Education

YEU

YEU's education program in Banda Aceh is running well. YEU distributed 
10 learning kits for the students in Tanah Merah and discussed the plan 
to establish a study club and a wall magazine.

Capacity building

YTBI

YTBI conducted an information management workshop and training for its 
implementing partners and working groups throughout NAD and Nias. ACT 
and KIPPAS (Sumatra Information Research on Publishing and Media) were 
facilitators for the training.

Networking and external relations

The ACT information officer and the YEU information officer attended the 
Reflection of 24 years of Walhi (Indonesian Environment Organisation 
Forum) in Medan. Walhi is one of YTBI's implementing partners working in 
West Aceh and Teunom.

ACT International, CWS and YTBI information officers attended the 
U.N./government/NGO coordination meeting at the UN-OCHA office in Medan. 
The main issues of the meeting were urgent movements of IDPs living in 
tents to temporary shelters/houses and land issues. The U.N. invited 
NGOs to participate in a task force to accelerate the target of moving 
all IDPs to temporary shelters before the end of December 2005.

The ACT International coordinator met with Ernst and Young in Jakarta to 
discuss monitoring and capacity building.

The ACT International information officer met with J. Anto, director of 
KIPPAS, Sumatra Publication and Education Research, to discuss the 
preparation of materials for information and communication training. 
KIPPAS, established in 1998, has published books about media research 
and media watchdogs. KIPPAS just released its latest publication, titled 
Peace Journalism in Aceh (Jurnalisme Damai di Aceh).

CWS attended a health coordination meeting at Northwest's clinic in 
Ujong Bate, Krueng Raya, Aceh Besar. The meeting was also attended by 
Cardi, Northwest Medical Team, JHS, and Merlin. Some of the issues 
discussed were revitalization of Posyandu (Integrated Health Service 
Post), supplementary feeding, and coordination in conducting cadre 
training.

CWS attended the coordination meeting on psychosocial support 
facilitated by the World Health Organization at the health office in 
Aceh Barat. The meeting was attended by WHO, CWS, Yayasan Ibu for Aceh, 
Danish Red Cross and MSF.

CWS attended a one-day workshop on child trafficking in Central and 
South Nias, facilitated by Pusat Kajian dan Perlindungan Anak/ PKPA 
(Centre for Study and Child Protection) Nias and UNICEF Nias. The 
workshop discussed mapping and action needed in order to lay out steps 
to prevent child trafficking.

YTBI facilitated a discussion on human rights and conflict-resolution 
issues in NAD province in Medan. PBHI (The Indonesian Legal Aid for 
Human Rights Association) was invited to be the facilitator of the 
discussion. ACT International, YTBI and its implementing partners in 
Aceh, CWS and YEU attended the discussion.

YTBI Working Group attended a meeting with the head of Cot Darat Village 
to discuss the possibility to reconstruct a road there. YTBI's tsunami 
project manager is ready to support the activity to motivate the local 
people, because members of YTBI's Working Group always pass over the 
road for relief distribution and facilitate discussion with the people 
in Samatiga sub-district.

ACT international coordination

The ACT international coordination office held a regional coordination 
meeting in Medan. The meeting was attended by the three ACT implementing 
members. The meeting discussed the progress and challenges of the 
program.

ACT International held a national coordination meeting in Jakarta. This 
meeting was attended by the country directors of the three implementing 
partners.

ACT International, in cooperation with the ACT implementing members 
(CWS, YEU, YTBI), is preparing to move to new offices in Medan. The move 
to the new office was scheduled to be complete by the end of October.

A number of ACT's funding members are currently setting up their own 
coordination offices in Indonesia. Some have had offices for some time. 
All implementing members welcome the existences of these offices. ACT 
International received Nena Soeprapto, Diakonisches Werk der EKD 
(Germany) in Indonesia, Elhadi Mohamed Abdall, Lutheran World Relief 
(USA) country representative, and Klaus Dieter Peter, Christian Aid 
program manager. Ken Semmler, Lutheran World Federation Australia, is 
scheduled to come soon for his second stay for a couple of months.

Visitors

Diakonisches Werk der EKD, Humanitarian Aid Germany: Mirjam Roller 
(project officer) and Stefan Schroer (consultant).

Lutheran World Relief: Barbara Wetsig (associate director for Asia & 
Middle East), Kathryn Wolford (president), Lisa Baumgartner Bonds (vice 
president for external affairs), Kirk Betts (LWR board chair) and 
Timothy Schwan (church and community engagement department and Thrivent 
Financial for Lutherans vice president).

For more information, please contact:
ACT Communications Officer Callie Long
  (mobile/cell phone +41 79 358 3171)
or
ACT Information Officer Stephen Padre
  (mobile/cell phone +41 79 681 1868)



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Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide alliance of churches and
their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency
response.  The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of 
Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.
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    Ecumenical Centre                          Phone: ++41-22-791.60.33
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    P.O. Box 2100                             E-Mail: act@wcc-coe.org
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