DPR Values Aceh Letter to the UN Does Not Need to Be Over-Replied, Asking the Government to Focus on Handling Disaster Victims

ILLUSTRATION/DOK ANTARA FOTO/Syifa Yulinnas

JAKARTA - Member of Commission II of the DPR Ujang Bey assessed that the delivery of a letter from the Aceh Government to two UN agencies did not need to be overreacted.

He believes that the Indonesian government is still able to handle the impact of the flood and landslide disasters that occurred in Aceh and other areas of Sumatra.

"When the government still hasn't given the green light regarding foreign aid, it means (the government) has the ability to assess all its problems," Ujang told reporters, Wednesday, December 17.

According to Ujang, the government has carefully calculated the country's ability to handle the impact of disasters in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra. Currently, he said, what is needed is only to focus on recovery and meet all the needs of affected communities.

"The government must focus and move quickly, accurately, and simultaneously so that the complaints of people affected by the flood can be handled as soon as possible," said the NasDem legislator from the West Java District.

As a member of the commission dealing with domestic governance, Ujang also hopes that the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) can communicate with the Aceh Government regarding the letter.

"Let there be no different perceptions," he concluded.

Previously, the Aceh government was reported to have written to two UN agencies, namely Unicef and UNDP, to be involved in handling disasters in Tanah Rencong.

"In particular, the Aceh Government has officially submitted a request for the involvement of several international institutions based on the experience of the 2004 tsunami disaster, such as UNDP and UNICEF," said Aceh Government Spokesperson Muhammad MTA in his statement on Sunday, December 14.

Even so, Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf admitted that he did not know about the letter to the UN agency. According to him, the Aceh Provincial Government has never officially issued the letter.

"I don't understand, because it's not us who made it. The NGOs made it. It's beyond our authority, I don't know," Mualem told reporters after receiving assistance from the Minister of Social Affairs at the Aceh Governor's office in Banda Aceh, Tuesday, December 16.