Indonesia - OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 70
28 March - 05 April 2002
MALUKU
General Situation
A powerful bomb exploded in front of Amboina Hotel in the Christian sector of Ambon
City on Wednesday (3 Apr.), killing at least 4 people and injuring 56. The injured were
taken to three hospitals for treatment. Some 20 people were reported to be in serious
condition.
Following the blast, angry Christian crowds gathered at the Governor's office located
just 600 metres away, protesting the inability of the government to protect the
community. Muslims also gathered at the other end of the government complex. In
the ensuing confusion a fire was started in the Government building at the rear of the
second floor, which quickly engulfed the second and third floors and most parts of the
ground floor. The governor's and vice-governor's office was totally destroyed. Also
completely destroyed were UNRC, UNICEF, and UN Security offices, located on the
second floor. The military dispersed the crowds later in the day. The city remained
tense over the night but normal activity returned the next day. Government and
community leaders have expressed disappointment over the incidents and claimed
the Malino II Accord has not been derailed.
All UN international and national staff was relocated to Jakarta on Thursday. The
AFSO (UN Area Field Security Officer) will however remain until Saturday when he will
also travel to Jakarta. None of the INGOs in Ambon have indicated that they will
relocate at this time. It is also expected that the UN FSO Indonesia and a team will
travel to Ambon early next week to assess the situation.
The Maluku Police Chief announced on Thursday that the police had arrested 5
people over the bomb incidents and were confident of solving the case soon.
This week the local government also announced that the deadline for the surrender of
all weapons have been extended until 30 April. It has also been reported in a Jakarta
newspaper that although over 360 weapons have so far been handed in, most were
home-made weapons and only one was organic.
The Central Government announced this week the establishment of an independent
investigation team headed by the National Police Chief to look into the causes of the
conflict that started on 19 January 1999 and also into the activities of the Laskar Jihad
in Maluku, the activities of the South Maluku independence movement, as well as
human rights violations.
NORTH MALUKU
General situation
Sinyo Harry Sarungdajang, the Officer in Charge of North Maluku provincial
government during 2 - 4 April, received a delegation of 10 national legislators who
came from Jakarta to assess the social welfare situation, including health, family
planning, women empowerment, transmigration, and labour affairs. The mission also
visited Tidore, the capital of Central Halmahera District. On his first day as Officer in
Charge, Sarungdajang visited returnees in Bacan Sub-district, in Songa and Bori
villages. He handed over funds for the construction of both Christian and Muslim
worship places in the villages. That was the first time since the reconciliation and
returnee process began nearly one year ago that the government made such a
contribution.
The new Sub-district of South Tobelo, with its administrative capital at Kupa-kupa,
was officially created. It was carved out of the Tobelo Sub-district.
Assessments and Monitoring
Donor representatives from AusAid and The Netherlands and New Zealand embassies
in Jakarta visited the province during 1 - 5 April to look at their humanitarian
assistance programmes in the province.
AcF visited East Gane and Bacan sub-districts to monitor its water and sanitation
projects and to assess agriculture needs in the returnee and resettlement sites.
A WHO team from Jakarta visited the province from 28 March to 3 April for
discussions with the health authorities in the province. WHO appealed to the districts
to increase their budgetary contribution to the health sector. The current allocation
goes mainly to the rehabilitation and building new health infrastructure. Very little was
left to cover operational costs of the various hospitals and health units.
UNICEF staff members are visiting the province from 31 March to 6 April for
discussions with education officials and to establish assistance programmes for
education. Besides Ternate, the mission also visited Tobelo and Galela.
Population movements
On Wednesday (3 Apr.) 36 families or 191 IDPs returned from Mailoa village of Makian
Sub-district to their original home in Akederi of Jailolo Sub-district. The local
government supported the process.
Health
During the week IMC attended 798 patients at puskesmas in Tobelo, Galela,
Kao-Malifut, Berebere, Daruba, and IDP camps in Ternate City. Common diseases
and conditions seen are: malaria, upper respiratory track infections, gastritis, skin
diseases, anaemia, and dental problems. IMC started the rehabilitation of the pustu in
Patang and Doro and the installation of a water system at Kao puskesmas in Kao
Sub-district.
WVI distributed 509 hygiene kits and 202 mosquito nets to 100 mothers in IDP
camps of Ternate city during the week.
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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