Frustration Builds as Residents Raise Flags of Distress Due to Inadequate Disaster Relief
Over recent weeks, angry and distressed locals in the province of Aceh have been displaying white flags over the official sluggish reaction to a succession of deadly floods.
Caused by a uncommon cyclone in November, the deluge resulted in the death of in excess of 1,000 persons and displaced hundreds of thousands more across the island of Sumatra island. In Aceh province, the hardest-hit region which accounted for almost 50% of the casualties, numerous people yet are without consistent availability to clean water, nourishment, electricity and healthcare resources.
A Leader's Public Anguish
In a demonstration of just how frustrating managing the disaster has grown to be, the leader of a region in Aceh broke down openly in early December.
"Can the authorities in Jakarta not know [our suffering]? It baffles me," a tearful Ismail A Jalil said publicly.
However President Prabowo Subianto has declined foreign help, insisting the circumstances is "being handled." "Our country is capable of handling this calamity," he advised his ministers last week. He has also to date overlooked appeals to declare it a national emergency, which would unlock special funds and expedite relief efforts.
Mounting Criticism of the Government
The current government has increasingly been viewed as unprepared, inefficient and out of touch – terms that some analysts argue have come to characterise his time in office, which he secured in last February based on people-focused commitments.
Even in his first year, his signature multi-billion dollar free school meals initiative has been mired in issues over mass contamination incidents. In recent months, thousands of citizens demonstrated over unemployment and rising living expenses, in what were among the biggest protests the nation has experienced in decades.
Currently, his government's response to the recent floods has become a further test for the official, even as his popularity have stayed high at around 78%.
Heartfelt Pleas for Help
On a recent Thursday, scores of protesters gathered in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, displaying pale banners and demanding that the government in Jakarta permits the path to international help.
Standing in the crowd was a young child clutching a sheet of paper, which read: "I'm only three years old, I want to live in a secure and stable place."
Although normally viewed as a symbol for surrender, the white flags that have appeared across the province – on damaged roofs, beside eroded banks and outside places of worship – are a signal for global support, protesters contend.
"The flags are not a sign of we are giving in. They are a cry for help to grab the notice of allies internationally, to let them know the conditions in Aceh currently are truly desperate," explained one protester.
Complete settlements have been eradicated, while extensive damage to roads and facilities has also stranded numerous communities. Those affected have described disease and malnutrition.
"How long more should we wash ourselves in mud and the deluge," cried a individual.
Regional leaders have contacted the UN for help, with the local official announcing he welcomes support "from anyone, anywhere".
Prabowo's administration has claimed aid operations are under way on a "countrywide basis", noting that it has disbursed about 60 trillion rupiah (a large amount) for reconstruction efforts.
Calamity Strikes Again
For many in Aceh, the plight brings back difficult memories of the 2004 tsunami, one of the deadliest catastrophes ever.
A powerful undersea tremor caused a tidal wave that created walls of water up to 100 feet in height which slammed into the Indian Ocean shoreline that morning, claiming an estimated 230,000 people in more than a dozen countries.
The province, previously ravaged by decades of strife, was one of the hardest-hit. Locals state they had barely completed rebuilding their homes when tragedy hit once more in November.
Aid came more quickly after the 2004 tsunami, even though it was much more destructive, they contend.
Many countries, global bodies like the World Bank, and private organisations directed significant resources into the relief operation. The Indonesian government then created a special agency to oversee money and assistance programs.
"The international community acted and the people recovered {quickly|
