www.temiar.com www.temiar.com


Urgent Appeal: Help Needed for the People in Aceh

Treatment of Tsunami Tragedy Victims has to pay Special Attention to Women and Children.

Press Release Solidaritas Perempuan (Women's Solidarity for Human Rights) No: 003/K/BEN/SP/XII/2004



 

 


 

 

DONATIONS CAN BE SENT TO THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNT:

Bank Account Number: 126-0002261096

Bank Mandiri, Kalibata Branch, Jakarta, Indonesia

Under the name of Salma Safitri and Mieke


The Tsunami tragedy of 26 December 2004 has killed thousands of people and has destroyed livelihoods and sources of sustainable living on a massive scale. The tragedy has left in its wake severe suffering for millions of people in Aceh and North Sumatra, as well as in India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and other countries.

Solidaritas Perempuan (SP) fully supports the concern of many parties, including governments, in delivering aid to those have died, those who have been injured, and those who have lost everything. Concerted and systematic efforts are desperately needed as many survivors face the risk of dying. They are barely coping with injuries, sickness, and are exposed to the perils of post-tsunami diseases. They are surviving under appalling living conditions, with lack of clothes, food and clean water. Solidaritas Perempuan expresses its appreciation to all the support and assistance rendered to the tsunami victims.

However, Solidaritas Perempuan is of the view that the process of attending to the victims has not been done in a way that pays attention to the needs of women and children. Without discriminating and neglecting the needs of the other groups, we have to stress that victims who are women and children require special attention and merit specific care. This special consideration can be explained in two ways. First, the process of discrimination already experienced by women and children in their daily lives is also experienced by them in the treatment provided to them as victims of the tsunami tragedy. Second, women and children have certain vulnerabilities and have different needs compared to adult male victims of this tragedy.

Unfortunately, these vulnerabilities and differences in needs are often overlooked in the process of attending to victims. Women and children victims are treated the same as the male victims, causing unfairness to the women and children.

Considering the above, Solidaritas Perempuan expresses the following:

  • 1. Extends its deepest condolences for the loss of lives and the immense
  • losses suffered by family members who survived
  • 2. Calls on the government, military, and aid givers to provide special
  • attention to the more vulnerable groups of victims such as women and children
  • 3. Invites all parties to give a helping hand to save victims and sources of livelihoods in the disaster areas
  • 4. Appeals to donors of funds and helpers of logistics to be transparent and accountable in delivering aid, without manipulation or corruption
  • 5. Beckons the government to refrain from taking advantage of this national disaster in order to fulfill political interests, especially in continuing and maintaining the civil emergency status in Aceh
  • Solidaritas Perempuan joins hands with others in raising funds to relieve the suffering of the victims, especially women and children. In this respect, Solidaritas Perempuan (SP) has established the Solidaritas Perempuan crisis center for Tsunami Victims in Jakarta and Aceh. SP has sent a special team to Aceh on Wednesday, 29 December 2004 to identify victims and attend to the special needs of victims.

Jakarta, 28 December 2004 SALMA SAFITRI RAHAYAAN Head, National Executive Committee Solidaritas Perempuan (Women's Solidarity for Human Rights)

DONATIONS CAN BE SENT TO THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNT:

Bank Account Number: 126-0002261096

Bank Mandiri, Kalibata Branch, Jakarta, Indonesia

Under the name of Salma Safitri and Mieke

Contact persons:

Salma Safitri (+62-8129500898), Risma Umar (+62-8129684615), Wiwin Tanian (+62-8129475949), Era (+62-8128053161 or +62-2170791715), Evelyn (+62-81316686194)

Contact Address for SOLIDARITAS PEREMPUAN CRISIS CENTER FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS: Jl. Jatipadang Raya, Gg. Wahid No: 64 Pasar Minggu, Jakarta 12540 Indonesia Telp: (62 21) 7826008, Fax: (62 21) 780 2529,

Email: soliper@centrin.net.id


Aceh Arcvhive news:

28th Dec 2004

The Indonesian Government has called for a temporary ceasefire of the armed conflict there, has declared the situation there as a national disaster and has finally lifted the previously imposed embargo against international aid going to Aceh. However, Aceh, Nias and Pantai Cermin are still short of medical assistance and necessary supplies.

What is needed at the moment include the following:

  • 1. Trained medical personnel to treat patients, dispense medical supplies and ascertain the post-disaster assistance needed
  • 2. Emergency medical supplies, especially antibiotics, pain-killers, bandages, dressing trays, surgical supplies, operating tents for triage, stretchers, intravenous drip and other medical necessities
  • 3. Body bags for corpses, which are quickly decomposing in the tropical heat and which may cause the rapid spread of disease
  • 4. Emergency food supplies
  • 5. Drinking water and water containers
  • 6. Equipment for emergency shelter
  • 7. Emergency sanitation equipment
  • 8. Communication equipment using satellite and independent charging equipment, because all electricity is out and the helpers there need a means of communication