Indonesia - OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 61
25 January - 01 February 2002
MALUKU
General Situation
Reconciliation talks between Christians and Muslims facilitated by the Central
Government took place last week in Ambon. Leaders from both sides met again on
Wednesday (30 Jan) in Makassar to work out the agenda for another meeting on
11-12 February.
Heavy gunfire and bombs blasts were heard last Saturday night (26 Jan) in the Kebun
Cengkeh and Karang Panjang area in Ambon. The disturbance was brought under
control by the security forces in Karang Panjang. The next morning a crowd of about
350 people, some armed with rifles and machetes, staged a demonstration in the
Muslim sector of Ambon apparently protesting the action of the military the night
before. No further details are available but the motive of both incidents appeared to be
an attempt by certain quarters to derail the reconciliation talks.
Assessments
Mercy Corps is conducting an assessment for their water and sanitation projects and
for shelter and non-food items in Kairatu and Piru, West Seram from 28-31 January.
An education task force comprising of local government officials, SC UK, Mercy
Corps, UNICEF, and UNRC will conduct a school assessment in Hative Besar,
Ambon Island on Tuesday (5 Feb.)
Health
MSF B will conduct a hygiene promotion programme in Wisma Atlit IDP camp in
Ambon this week, as a result of increased diarrhoea cases reported in that area. A
team is also currently in West Seram until 2 February to conduct a medical outreach
programme.
IMC doctors went to Ambalau Island (South East Buru) for their mobile clinic and
immunisation programme on Sunday (27 Jan.) and vaccinated 112 children in Ulima,
Masawoi and Lumoi. IMC also received reports that 19 children had died on the island
in November 2001 of measles. The local authorities had never previously reported
these deaths. They also conducted a health education session about tuberculosis,
attended by 144 people, in Malaku Village, North Seram on Monday (28 Jan.) and
treated 108 patients in Kilometre 4 IDP camp in Masohi, Seram Island on Tuesday
(29 Jan.). Next week, an IMC doctor plans to travel to the mountain areas of Uneth,
Waelo and Waeramon in Buru Island for their mobile clinic programme.
Water and Sanitation
MSF B sent a team to West Seram from 29 January to 2 February for their water and
sanitation projects in Kampung Baru, Alang Asaudi, Asaudi, Buano and Pulau Tiga.
Education
SC UK will meet with the Children's Parliament, which comprises children from
Muslim and Christian communities in Ambon, on Friday (31 Jan.) to establish a
platform for the empowerment of children in Maluku.
Economic Recovery and Infrastructure
Mercy Corps sent a monitoring team for their economic development projects in
agriculture and farming in Kairatu, West Seram from 28-31 January.
Other
A delegation from the Dutch Government visited Ambon from 30 Jan-1 Feb. The team
met with UN agencies, international and local NGOs, as well as government and
community leaders.
NORTH MALUKU
General Situation
The Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono while on a three day working visit to Maluku and North Maluku provinces,
from 25 to 27 January 2002, said the Government would process the decision whether
or not to amend the security level from Civil Emergency to Civil Order in the province
this week. If returned to civil order, provisions will be made for the local chief executive
to have the proper authority, power and assistance from the security officers.
Meanwhile, the Commander of Regional Military Command of Maluku, Mustopo (as
reported on "Kantor Berita 68 H " radio station on 30 January) stated that in spite of
the plans, TNI will not withdraw its troops from the provinces before assuring that
security condition gets back to normal. He added that there were four thousand
soldiers deployed in both places and that the probability of new security disruption
occurring in both restive Maluku and North Maluku is still very high.
Population Movement
The Mayor of Ternate said, as reported by Ternate Pos, that there are approximately
43 thousand Muslim IDPs originating from Halmahera in Ternate and 18-20 thousand
Christian IDPs originating from Ternate are living in camps in North Sulawesi's
Manado and Bitung towns respectively. He suggested all IDPs in Ternate to vacate
the city before the return of Christians from North Sulawesi. He added that the
municipality has allocated five billion rupiah from the local budget to handle the IDP
issues. Christian IDPs displaced in North Sulawesi and not willing to go back to
Ternate city would be relocated to Batang Dua Island.
Assessments
CARDI conducted a two weeks' (17-31 January) survey in Obi and Bacan sub-districts
on returnee needs and living conditions in the area.
On 25-30 January, WVI continued to assess needs for rehabilitation of public facilities
and identification of beneficiaries in Galela, Tobelo, Kao and Malifut sub-districts for
their upcoming community rehabilitation programme.
On Wednesday (30 Jan.), FAO in collaboration with Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture
and an International NGO launched activities of the organisation's Technical
Cooperation Project "Emergency Assistance for food production in support of
returnees farmers in North Maluku". An FAO officer and an official from the Central
Ministry of agriculture Jakarta are on mission to North Maluku on 30 January to 03
February 2002 for meetings and discussions with local officials, and NGOs from the
agriculture sector.
Health
On 25-30 January, MDM conducted discussions on malaria and its preventive
measures with communities in two villages of Jailolo and one village in Ibu sub district
respectively. The exercise was followed by distribution of mosquito control kits (1
backpack sprayer, 1 pair of gloves, 1 mask, 2 boxes of insecticide) and 338 mosquito
nets to most vulnerable beneficiaries in the two villages. During the same week other
two villages in Sahu sub-district received 542 hygiene kits.
On 24-31 January, IMC provided support and consultations at health centres in IDP
camps in Ternate, Kao, Malifut, Tobelo, Galela and Morotai. Common diseases seen
are malaria, respiratory tract infection, diarrhoea and skin infections. The organisation
donated essential drugs to the health centre in Malifut and an air condition unit to
Tobelo public hospital.
On 23-31 January 2002,WVI continued its small-scale health program involving 528
mothers and 291 children in 34 IDP camps in Ternate to participate in health
education training covering various topics on common conditions such as diarrhoea,
pregnancy related complaints, breast-feeding, vitamin deficiencies and commonly
available nutritious food.
Non-food Items
From 25-31 January, ICRC distributed tools and seeds to beneficiaries in Bacan and
Gane Barat sub districts. Exact total number of items and beneficiaries will be known
after the distribution is completed.
Education
The head of the sub-section of Basic Education of North Maluku Province said on
Saturday (26 Jan) that the provincial Education Office allocated 12 billion rupiah to
improve basic education during the fiscal year 2002. The program will cover teachers'
training, rehabilitation of destroyed schools, construction of either new rooms or new
building of schools, provision of books and school equipment, in all areas of North
Maluku province.
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
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