Refugees International is sending an assessment mission to Indonesia from May 12 to 28 to focus on efforts in Aceh to recover from the tsunami, which struck the province on December 26. Consultants Larry Thompson and Jay McNaughton plan to travel outside the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, to assess the status of the relief activities and the degree to which communities are beginning to rebuild. RI continues to be concerned that the focus of Indonesian government efforts is on forcing people into temporary shelters away from their villages and towns rather than supporting self-help efforts in their home communities. The team expects to be in contact with the staff of local non-governmental organizations that are monitoring the relief effort and undertaking their own direct advocacy to influence the planning and implementing of the response.

The tsunami disaster provoked a massive international aid effort, involving mainstream international agencies and non-governmental organizations and start-up, volunteer efforts, both international and local. A staggering $14 billion has been donated or pledged to support relief and recovery in all the affected countries. The disparity between the amount of funds available and the work that has been accomplished is beginning to breed frustration and resentment from the affected populations, who see rebuilding moving at a glacial pace. Jay McNaughton helped RI assess the emergency in early January in its initial phase, and he will thus be in a good position to assess the extent of progress and what remains to be done.

RI anticipates focusing its post-mission advocacy on the Indonesian government and the international institutions responsible for assisting the government with planning and implementing the recovery program.

Read more about the tsunami on our tsunami crisis page.