Global IDP Project
| Adresgegevens: | The Norwegian Refugee Council
The Global IDP Project
Chemin Moise-Duboule 59, CH-1209 Geneva
Tel: (0041 22) 788 80 85
Fax: (0041 22) 788 80 86 | | |
| Contactpersoon: | Frederik Kok | | |
| Emailadres: | frederik.kok@nrc.ch | | |
| Website: | www.idpproject.org | | |
| Omschrijving: | The Maluku Provinces
In January 1999 a dispute between a Christian bus driver and a Muslim youth on Ambon Island prompted an outbreak of communal violence that rapidly spread to other areas of the province. Scores of churches, mosques and houses were burnt down and the rioting caused a large number of casualties. By the end of the year violence had broken out several times on Ambon as well as on neighboring islands. In December 1999 it was reported that an estimated 100,000 people had been displaced within the province (OCHA 12 August 2000) while another 100,000 people had sought refuge in South-East Sulawesi (UNDP March 2000, p. 6).
Throughout 2000 violence and destruction continued unabated despite the imposition of a state of civil emergency at the end of June. By September 2000 the displacement figures stood at 215,061 IDPs in the Maluku province (more than half of them on Ambon Island) and at 197,327 IDPs in North Maluku (Bakornas 25 September 2000). Moreover, some 138,481 IDPs were still in South-East Sulawesi (mixed with IDPs from West and East Timor), 20,000 IDPs (Christians) were sheltered in Manado (North Sulawesi), 5,187 IDPs sought refuge in West Papua and an unknown number fled Ambon to seek refuge in East Java (Bakornas 25 September 2000; UNDP July 2000, p. 4).
Out of a total population of 2 to 2,5 million, it was estimated that between 20% and 25% (approximately 500,000 people) of the Maluku archipelago population has been displaced by the conflict. (ACF 26 August 2000, p. 5).
The health needs in the Maluku provinces are wide-ranging and acute. Due to the security deterioration there is a significant shortage of physicians and health care staff in both provinces. The need for a better general medical surveillance of the IDP population is best reflected in the fact that even in Ambon, where periodic disease data sets exist, there are no reliable periodic disease surveillance data for IDPs (WHO 18 August 2000, p. 2-3). Data for North Maluku are yet incomplete but it is likely that the general health and sanitary conditions are even less favorable.
The nutrition and food situation is far from homogenous and vary greatly from one area of displacement to another. Access to these areas is a crucial factor that often determines whether or not IDPs will go hungry, this is especially true for North Maluku where the distribution of aid is seriously hampered by logistical and security obstacles (UNDP July 2000, sect. 5.1). On the whole, thanks to regular distribution of food and existing coping mechanisms, low levels of malnutrition have been reported in Central and North Maluku. (ICRC April 2000; ACF 26 August 2000, p.6) as well as on Ambon Island (OCHA 5 August 2000).
The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) is in charge of the coordination of humanitarian assistance in the Maluku archipelago. Given its limited experience in conducting humanitarian activities the Government of Indonesia has requested the UN to coordinate international assistance for relief, reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation activities (OCHA March 2000, sect. 4.8.1). At the national level, the coordination mechanisms will be supported by OCHA through a strengthened Humanitarian Coordination Unit, attached to the UN Resident Coordinator. Recently the PMI put forward a proposition to establish a National Commission on Refugees, which would be an attempt to coordinate the help to the IDPs (Antara 29 September 2000). At the provincial level, two UN Resource Centers were opened at the end of July in Ambon and in Ternate to better coordinate between humanitarian agencies and local authorities (Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator 19 July 2000).
A significant number of UN agencies, international and local NGOs are operational in the Malukus and are targeting the needs of the displaced. WHO is conducting an important number of health projects. UNICEF and UNDP are also responding to the needs of the displaced. ACF, ICRC, ICMC, Save the Children-UK, MSF-B, OXFAM, CWS, ACT, WVI, and others are contributing to the global international response.
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