CRISIS CENTRE DIOCESE OF AMBOINA
Jalan Pattimura 32 -- Ambon 97124 -- Indonesia
Tel 0062 (0)911 342195 Fax 0062 (0)911 355337
E-mail: crisiscentre01@hotmail.com
Ambon, December 21, 2005
THE SITUATION IN AMBON/MOLUCCAS - Report No. 498
1. SHORTAGE OF PHYSICIANS - In the Moluccas - especially in its remote areas -
there is an urgent need for doctors. The total number of doctors in the Moluccas is 70.
Their presence is required not only for administering to the sick but also for enhancing
health care, for precautionary measures to be taken, for promoting sanitary facilities
etc. The Moluccas has 17 clusters of islands. Needed are at least 150 doctors,
including dentists. Thus was communicated to the media by the head of the Provincial
Health Department in Ambon, Dr Rukiah Marasabessi. Though the government tries to
make the position of a doctor in the more isolated areas as attractive as possible,
nevertheless not many physicians can be persuaded to settle down there.
2. FREE MEDICATION - More than 90 Muslim refugees living in temporary shelters in
the Waihaong area, city of Ambon, showed up for free medical check-up on
December 18. The event was organized by students from the Indonesian Christian
University of the Moluccas (UKIM) in Ambon in order to demonstrate solidarity with
their suffering Muslim brothers and sisters. They worked in coordination with the
Waihaong community health center. Among the Internally Displaced Persons that live
in Waihaong, many residents, from infants to seniores, suffer from breathing
problems, chronic coughs and skin diseases due to poor health conditions.
3. FOREIGNERS DEPORTED - We read in The Jakarta Post Newspaper that in the
last eight months 201 foreigners have been sent back to their home countries by the
Tual Immigration Office. Tual lies on Kei Kecil Island and is the capital of the
South-East Moluccas Regency (Kabupaten Maluku Tenggara). With all of them there
were problems with their passports or immigration documents. Their nationalities -
thus was reported by the head of the Tual Immigration Office, J. Saija - were 133
Burmanese, 53 Thais, 13 Cambodians and two Myanmarese. J. Saija further said:
"There are still many foreigners who have no passports or legal immigration
documents in Southeast Maluku. But, we will soon remedy the situation."
The immigration office's data shows that most of the non-nationals illegally staying in
Southeast Maluku are fishermen. Some have been in the regency for 10 years
already. Some of the foreigners have even raised families with local women. Some
have as many as three children but could not take them with them due to their legal
status.
4. CHRISTMAS GREETINGS - We send our readers our sincere wishes for a Blessed
Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for caring for the Moluccas. May
likewise the New Year be a blessing for all.
C.J.Böhm msc,
Crisis Centre Diocese of Amboina |
