Indonesian government orders departure of some international NGOs

The Indonesian government has asked some foreign aid agencies working on the island of Sulawesi to leave after the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

The order does not affect the New Zealand Red Cross Society because of its affiliation with the Indonesian Red Cross.

The official record is 1948, with 10,000 wounded and 5,000 missing. Some 70,000 people have been displaced.

The UN humanitarian agency, UNOCHA, estimates that about 200,000 people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.

The Indonesian National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) has issued regulations for international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are not registered as local NGOs.

"Foreign NGOs that have deployed foreign personnel are urged to immediately recover their staff," BNPB said on its website, according to reports in international media.

Indonesia has allowed foreign NGOs to operate in Sulawesi after the tsunami-triggered earthquake of September 28, but aid workers complained of limited access to affected areas and confusion of instructions, reported the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that at this point, the $ 5 million aid allocated by New Zealand to Indonesia was not affected by the rules applicable to international NGOs.

"Our assistance has been requested directly by the Indonesian government, including through the deployment of a RNZAF C-130 Hercules, or is provided by Indonesian-based humanitarian partners, in accordance with the Intervention Plan. Indonesian government's emergency, Sulawesi, "said the president. The spokesman said in a statement.

A spokeswoman for the New Zealand Red Cross said the order was not affected by this organization because it was working in partnership with the Indonesian Red Cross. There were more than 600 Indonesian Red Cross volunteers in the field, and the International Federation of Red Cross Societies (IFRC) and the Red Crescent also provided support.

The Red Cross teams focused on medical care and first aid, distributing relief items such as water, tarpaulins, blankets, mats, jerrycans and family kits, said spokesperson.

A team of four Red Cross information technology and telecommunications experts left New Zealand Monday to work to restore networks in the affected areas.

Mark Mitchell, chair of the Council for International Development's humanitarian network, did not think New Zealand's organizations were affected by the order because they were working with local partners.

"It's about maintaining local ownership, context-specific responses for maximum impact," he said.

Funds raised in New Zealand went to local partners and their expenses were monitored, he said.

A defense spokesman said that no restrictions had been imposed on the NZDF's assistance to Indonesia and that Hercules would complete its one-week deployment. tomorrow as planned.

The NZDF has reported transporting items from a water purification plant in the city of Palu to address the acute shortage of drinking water in the hardest hit areas.

Flight captain Dave Natapu, captain of No. 40 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, said that the Hercules had delivered the aircraft. equipment yesterday.

France donated the plant, and the Air Force also transported 32 French engineers to install it.

"The water supply is one of the main necessities as a result of any disaster," Natapu said.

"There are obvious dangers in people who drink water from potentially contaminated sources.Having this water purification system would help solve this problem."

Hercules and the 15 – member detachment have helped transport more than 53 tons of international aid to earthquake – hit areas since their arrival with 8.2 tons of aid last week.

The International Federation has launched a call and Kiwis can contribute via: https://www.redcross.org.nz/donate/indonesian-earthquake-appeal/