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Foreign donors asked to focus on reconstruction TheJakartaPost.com June 5, 2006 The government said Sunday future foreign assistance for survivors of the deadly earthquake in Yogyakarta and Central Java should focus on reconstruction efforts because medical help was sufficient. After officials gave confusing statements about the role of foreign medical workers, the Foreign Ministry's secretary-general Imron Cotan said an assessment of the affected areas indicated additional medical teams were not needed. "We are not forbidding or stopping foreigners who wish to provide medical help in the affected areas, as reported by several media outlets, but advise that they send help in other forms to assist the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts," he told The Jakarta Post. Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said Saturday that the government had stopped receiving overseas medical help. Imron said medical teams already on their way to Indonesia were still welcome to come here, while those in the field would be advised on the most effective way to use their resources. "We have told Indonesian embassies overseas to inform foreigners wanting to help about the conditions, while we have assigned our officials in Solo (Surakarta) and Yogyakarta to serve foreigners requesting visas on arrival," he said of the visa facility, which lasts for a month and can be extended. "We will give visas to them if our representative office overseas has not issued them. But we will assess each requested extension of the visa. If we see that we don't need the help anymore, then we will not renew the visa." Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X said earlier the emergency phase was over, and the focus should now be on rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. The UN said Friday, however, it would take at least two more weeks to complete emergency assistance to hundreds of thousands of survivors. There have been reports of deserted foreign-run field hospitals, with survivors choosing to be treated at relatives' homes or by local doctors. Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman Rear Adm. Sunarto Sjoekronoputra said local medical teams would begin direct handling of all health-related problems next week, and assume the duties of the foreign teams. "However, we are still open to that kind of (foreign) medical assistance," he said at a news conference at TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta. He said the military had deployed 6,418 personnel to the quake-hit areas, which did not include 66 personnel from its medical and health directorate and 1,245 military cadets. Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono previously encouraged local officials to take control of relief efforts, with foreigners providing supporting services. "This move will enable all parties to work effectively in the field," Juwono said. Central Java Governor Mardiyanto said Sunday he welcomed the presence of foreign medical assistance and said an Italian team arrived Saturday night with much-needed equipment. "If they are not needed, they will go home," he was quoted as saying by Kompas online. "I'm not talking about the politics about rejecting or accepting them, but the needs in the field."
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