Indonesia - OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 78
24 - 31 May 2002
MALUKU
General Situation
On Friday (24 May), an unidentified body with stab wounds was found in Wasu
Village, Haruku Island. Security apparatus were not able to identify the perpetrator
and the motive of the murder is still unclear.
On Saturday (25 May), a public speedboat 'Oyo Star' was shot at by two unidentified
speedboats from the direction of Haruku Island, while carrying approximately 50
passengers to Haria Village, Saparua Island, resulting in 10 injuries and 5 deaths.
On Wednesday (29 May) at approximately 11.30 local time, a mortar exploded in the
Karang Panjang Housing Complex in Ambon followed by a series of gunshots which
lasted until midnight. No casualty was reported from the incident.
On Thursday (30 May), an angry crowd of approximately 70 Ojeg (motorcycle) and
Becak (traditional three-wheel transportation vehicle) drivers gathered outside the
Ammans Hotel and dispersed 30 minutes later. The incident injured two persons. The
nature of the demonstration remains unclear until today.
On Thursday (30 May), Major General Djoko Santoso, a two-star general who was
previously the Commander of the TNI's Strategic Command (Kostrad) Second
Division, was appointed as the new Military Commander in Maluku, replacing
Brigadier General Moestopo. The new military commander will also be acting as the
Commander of Security Recovery Operations in Maluku for both the Military and
Police apparatus in the province under the Civil Emergency Board. Previously, the
Military Commander and the Police Chief was a joint command under the Board.
Responding to fears that a one-command model would be similar to imposing Martial
Law in the province, TNI Chief of Staff, General Endriartono Sutarto, who attended
Thursday's ceremony to appoint the new Commander, assured that all decisions will
be made by the Governor of Maluku, as the Head of the Board. The input given by the
Commander will be advisory in nature, thus ensuring Civil Supremacy in efforts for a
peaceful resolution in Maluku. The response of the communities of the replacement of
the military commander has been said to be positive.
Traders have partially begun to return to the neutral market in front of the Ammans
Hotel. There are still temporary roadblocks put up by locals in the evening curfew
hours, which is still imposed from 10 pm to 6 am local Ambon time, to safeguard their
areas from intruders. The door-to-door sweeping operations are low profile but
currently ongoing in both Muslim and Christian areas.
Assessments
CARDI sent a pre-monitoring team to Namlea Town, Waprea Waimulang, Waikose,
Leksula, Ewiri and Mepa villages in North and South Buru from 26 to 1 June with a
view to funding economic empowerment and water and sanitation programmes with
local partners in the area.
Food Security and Agriculture
Mercy Corps, together with a local partner, distributed seeds and farming tools on
Tuesday (28 May) to 107 displaced families in Kaibobo village, West Seram.
Health
IMC doctors conducted their Mobile Clinic Programme in Seram island for returnees
on Wednesday (22 May) where they treated 152 patients, followed by another mobile
clinic visit to the TNI Health Post on Thursday (23 May) in collaboration with the
doctors in the battalion and to Tifu and Makariki village on Friday (24 May); On
Monday (27 May) IMC conducted the same programme in Haruru area, followed by
another one in Sepa on Tuesday (28 May) where IMC reported the absence of water
facilities in the area.
On Friday (24 May) an IMC doctor conducted 19 circumcisions in Werinama, Bemo,
Etes and Namalat villages in Seram Island together with the Werinama Puskesmas
circumcision team who was trained the past week.
MSF B conducted 698 consultations by mobile clinics throughout the week for
returnees living in IDP camps in Ambon Island, where they discovered two cases of
measles in children above 5 years old, and four cases of measles in displaced
children under 5 years old living in THR IDP camp- three of them being from the same
family-and have reported these cases to the local health authorities.
On Saturday (25 May) MSF B sent drugs and equipment to Saparua Hospital in
Saparua Island for the victims of the speedboat attacks early that morning (Ref.
General Situation). They also visited Tial, Tulehu and Liang Villages on Tuesday (28
May) to supervise their health programmes in the Puskesmas and their Mobile Clinic
programmes in the area.
Water and Sanitation
MSF B began construction of a water tank, pipe connection and water points in Air
Besar IDP Camp on Friday (24 May), and emptied 2 septic tanks in Rimba Raya IDP
Camp on Monday (27 May), all in Ambon Island. After last week's assessment in
West Seram for their water and sanitation programmes in 11 Villages, they discovered
that most of the villagers had difficulties for access of water, therefore MSF B will
proceed with their projects in West Seram in the near future.
Economic Recovery and Infrastructure
Mercy Corps together with a local NGO conducted training in Community Resources
Management for 30 villagers living in Namlea, North Buru on Friday (31 May).
Other
SC UK conducted groups activities throughout the week from 25 May to 1 June with
160 children and adults for their Enact Programme (Engaging Activities for Involving
Children and Young People in Building New Communities) in areas of Benteng Atas,
Karang Panjang, Kuda Mati and Batu Gantung in Ambon town, aiming at motivating
people to establish child activities in their communities. SC UK also supported two
collaborating local NGOs, both Muslim and Christian, to conduct activities involving
250 children from both communities to gather in a neutral area and watch the
television broadcast of the Football World Cup for motivating positive interaction
among the children of mixed communities on Saturday (1 June).
NORTH MALUKU
General situation
The Indonesian National Assembly (DPR) will hold plenary session on 11 June to
discuss the motion for the creation of four districts out of North Maluku district.
Meanwhile Mr. Gahral Syah, the North Maluku district administrator (Bupati) stated
that creation of these new districts would facilitate efficient administration of the
present district of North Maluku.
Difficulties in distribution of gasoline in Ternate City during 25-27 May 2002, continue
to disrupt public transport in Ternate City during the week resulting in long queues at
gas stations. A spokesman for the state fuel company "Pertamina" stated that to
avoid such inconvenience, designated fuel stations would not sell fuel to retailers in
jerry cans and drums.
Assessments and Monitoring:
WVI visited South Morotai sub-district on 17-25 May to assess the general situation
and humanitarian needs in the area and reported that many returnees from Tobelo,
and North Sulawesi towns of Manado and Bitung are returning to South Morotai.
Urgent needs were for shelter and hygiene facilities. In response to those needs, WVI
is planning a distribution of hygiene kits (bathing and washing soap, tooth paste,
sanitary towels) and family kits (basins, bucket, blanket, turpolin pans and crockery)
to the area.
A WHO consultant arrived in the province to work with provincial and local health
authorities, communities and NGOs (27 May-10 June) to assess the current situation
regarding immunization in the province in order to review available arrangements and
advice on preparations for the National Immunizations Days to be conducted jointly in
September and October 2002.
Food security and agriculture
The local radio broadcast (RRI Ternate) "Lintas Gamalama" reported this week that
DOLOG Ternate (Provincial Logistics Agency) would provide rice at subsidized price
of Rp 1,000 per kilogram (market price range 2 - 4,000 Rp) for poor communities
(RASKIN) in Ternate and Moti Islands of Ternate Municipality during the next four
months.
Health
This week IMC assisted 769 patients at puskesmas in Tobelo, Galela, Kao, Malifut
sub-districts and Daruba, Posi-posi Rao, and Berebere, south Morotai sub-district.
Common diseases reported were dyspepsia, gastro enteritis, myalgia, hypertension,
malaria, upper respiratory tract infection (including bronchitis), TB, Frunkelosis and
pyoderma. A group of medical professionals (paediatrician, obstetrician, internist,
surgeon, ophthalmologist and midwife) from Ternate visited hospitals in Tobelo and
Galela to provide health service on 26 and 27 May.
WVI health promotion unit in Ternate city visited 10 displaced persons camps to
evaluate the benefits of hygiene and family kits which were distributed to the IDPs.
Initial results showed 99% appreciated and used the items provided but others sold it
or gave it away.
Shelter and Non-food Items
South Moratai sub-district administrator (Camat) Mr. Mucksin Popa, during a visit to
Ternate this week appealed for urgent assistance for shelter for many returnees
arriving in his area. Up to 800 families are expected to return by the end of 2002, but
according to the Camat, the number of temporary shelters constructed in the area is
not sufficient.
This report and all previous ones can be found on OCHA's website at
www.reliefweb.int
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
UN Building 4th Floor
Jl. MH. Thamrin 14
P.O. Box 2238, Indonesia
FAX: (62-21) 319-0003
PHONE: ( 62-21) 314-1308, Ext. 215, 151, 125
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