Indonesia - OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 52
23 - 30 November 2001
MALUKU
General Situation
There was a notable reduction of tension in the overall security situation in Ambon and
elsewhere in Maluku. The new barricades set up by the Christians on roads in the city
were removed soon after the end of the 3-day mourning period called by the Christians
last week.
On Saturday (24 Nov.) four people were injured by an accidental bomb explosion in
the Muslim sector of Batu Merah, Ambon.
Heavy gunfire, believed to be from the military, was heard in the Kebun Cengkeh area
in Ambon on Tuesday (27 Nov.) night. No further details are available.
IMC reports that Waymusing, a Muslim village in Buru, was attacked by hill tribesmen
last Friday (23 Nov.). The attack left two people dead and two injured. There were later
reports that one tribesman was killed in retaliation.
Population Movements
Reports were received that almost 85% of the population of Waimulang have returned
to their village. The government confirmed that the attack on 1 November caused
substantial damage to houses and other buildings and that it would assist in the
rehabilitation of the village. A local NGO reported that there is a need for medicines,
shelter materials and clothing. Efforts will be made by aid agencies to verify the
situation there in the coming days.
Assessments
An AcF mission to TNS sub-district in Seram returned to Ambon to report that IDPs
who initially fled to Taniwel in Seram had returned. The NGO will return to TNS next
week to follow up on the assessment.
Mercy Corps sent an assessment team this week to Kasui and Teor islands to
assess the situation and the possibilities of IDPs returning. The team comprised
representatives from a local NGO, the Tual district office of the Social Welfare
ministry, the sub-district head of Kei Kecil, several leaders of local communities, and
IDP representatives from Teor and Kasui.
IMC conducted an assessment at Namlea and determined that the General Hospital
there was in need of a surgeon.
WFP performed an assessment mission in Ambon during the course of the week to
assess food needs among IDPs in the city and identify room for WFP participation in
providing humanitarian assistance in the coming year. WFP is particularly interested
in identifying a local NGO as its implementing partner for that area.
Food Security and Agriculture
AcF distributed seed and tool kits in North West Buru to 1,238 households.
Beneficiaries are mostly returnees.
Health
Five new doctors recruited by IMC arrived in Ambon this week. They will be
temporarily assigned to Wahaii in North Seram and Masohi in Central Seram. Before
proceeding on their new assignments, they will attend the workshop 'Health as a
Bridge for Peace', which will be conducted by WHO next week.
IMC reported that a medical team that had moved to Wamsisi, Buru early this month
has organised basic restoration of the Puskesmas (local public health centre). Four
rooms were prepared with beds for inpatients. The pharmacy and equipment stock
rooms were also organised and restocked. The NGO has also established a
temporary office with a field logistician in Namlea. A VHF base station in the
Puskesmas allows communication with the Namlea office. However, the IMC doctor
who was assigned to Wamsisi had to be temporarily moved to Namlea on Saturday
(24 Nov.) due to some reports of militia activity in the mountain areas.
IMC has also conducted mobile clinic visits for the last 2 weeks in the villages
surrounding Leksula, including Waimulang, Buru.
IMC this week has also arranged with the head of the Maluku health office to have one
of the TNI anaesthetic nurses attached to the Tual General Hospital to assist their
general surgeon there. The IMC surgeon has been operating without an anaesthetic
nurse for the last one month.
Water and Sanitation
Mercy Corps held a meeting with about 20 local NGOs on Wednesday (28 Nov.) to
discuss water and sanitation-related issues for areas outside of Ambon Island.
Shelter and Non-food Items
Mercy Corps has approved a project to repair the roofing for 94 families at an IDP
camp in Halong Naval Base. The roof of these barracks was made out of sago leaves
shingles, which are now leaking. These will be replaced with galvanized corrugated
sheets.
Mercy Corps is also working with a local NGO, Yayasan Batera Keke, to support 33
families who have returned to their village in U'at Reyean, Southeast Maluku, with
non-food items.
Education
SC UK had a meeting with UNICEF and the head of the Maluku Education Office.
Issues discussed were the pilot areas for implementing Save the Children
programmes, and the setting up of a working group to tackle education-related issues.
Other
International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) is in Ambon to conduct a
capacity building training course with their partners. While ICMC does not have a
permanent presence in Ambon, they conduct training programmes for their six
partners in Maluku.
ECHO and USAID teams were also in Ambon this week to inspect their projects and
meet their implementing partners.
NORTH MALUKU
Assessments
AcF monitored the progress of the reconstruction programme they have been
supporting in East Gane sub-district, and carried out an assessment of needs in the
sectors of reconstruction and rehabilitation in Jailolo sub-district.
A joint SC UK and WVI team did a "Classroom Resources" needs assessment in
schools in the areas in which WVI is currently involved (Galela, Tobelo, Kao and
Malifut sub-districts). The mission findings are not immediately available.
A WHO and OCHA team (comprising national medical officers, psychologists, and
psychiatrists) carried out a field survey during a one-week mission to Bacan, Kao,
Malifut and Tobelo, to test a Rapid Mental Health Assessment Tool. This tool was
developed internationally to better understand the mental condition and needs of
communities and people affected by conflict. WHO will make the report available for
use by any interested organisation.
Food Security and Agriculture
ICRC is distributing seeds and agricultural tools to selected vulnerable communities in
Weda sub-district of Central Halmahera district.
Health
WVI provided health training to 676 displaced mothers with children under 12 who are
residing in 28 camps in Ternate City. Hygiene kits were also distributed to 502
vulnerable families in these camps.
ICRC is distributing Family and Hygiene Kits to 130 vulnerable people in Weda
sub-district, Central Halmahera district, and school uniforms to children at elementary
school.
MDM continues to provide health services in the sub-districts of Jailolo, Sahu and Ibu.
This week 30 health cadres received training on malaria treatment.
IMC assistance for health services continues at all health centres in Tobelo, Galela,
Kao, and Daruba & Posi-Posi Rao of South Morotai and Bere-Bere of North Morotai
sub-districts. Common illnesses reported during the week include malaria, diarrhoea
and respiratory tract infection.
Water and Sanitation
WVI supported the cleaning of 38 wells in 6 villages in Malifut, Kao, Tobelo and Galela
sub-districts. Essential building materials (bricks, zinc plates, iron, and closets) for
the construction and rehabilitation of MCK (combined bathing, latrine, and washing
facilities) in these villages were also provided.
Housing Reconstruction and Rehabilitation
AcF distributed construction kits for 290 houses in 3 villages of Loloda sub-district in
North Maluku district.
WVI distributed roofing kits in Mamuya village (midway between Galela and Tobelo
sub-district). So far WVI has distributed 2,810 roofing kits under this programme in
target villages in Galela, Tobelo, Kao and Malifut sub-districts. It is expected that a
total of 1,000 roofing kits will be distributed by January 2002.
CENTRAL SULAWESI
General Situation
Fighting between Muslims and Christians reportedly killed seven people and
destroyed hundreds of houses this week. Complete and unbiased reports from the
area are difficult to get, but local sources reported the following:
* Monday (26 Nov.): The Bethany Church in Poso Town was burned down. No
casualties were reported. Christians had abandoned the town four months ago.*
Tuesday: Three Christian villages in Poso Pesisir sub-district were attacked:
Betalemba, Patiwunga, and Tangkura. Five people died. The Christians fled to Napu
and Tentena.* Wednesday: Another Christian village, Sulewana, in North Pamona
sub-district, was attacked.* Thursday: Two Christian villages, Sangginora and Dewua,
in North Pamona, were attacked. In the afternoon, two other Christian villages in Lage
sub-district, Sepe and Silanca, were attacked. Christians living in nearby villages were
reported to have started evacuating to Tentena.
Later reports claimed that the villages of Betalemba, Patiwunga, Tangkura, Sulewana,
Sangginora, and Dewua had been completely destroyed. The Jakarta Post reported
that the dozens of troops and police deployed in these areas were powerless to halt
the violence, which involved a thousand armed civilians, although both military and
police chiefs on Thursday morning said they had the situation under control. The Post
reported that Laskar Jihad members admitted on Thursday that their fighters had
initiated the attack on Tangkura after being allegedly provoked by the Christians. "We
will never stop our attacks," he said as quoted by the daily.
Food Security
The head of the Social Welfare office in Poso said the distribution of food and
side-dish money to IDPs was delayed due to the uncertain security situation in the
district.
Health and Sanitation
ICRC distributed medicines to Poso IDPs through the Poso General Hospital and the
Tentena General Hospital. The medicines included water purifying tablets, plasma
substitute, infusions, renewable supplies and dressing material.
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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