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Humanitarian Activities Continue Following Shooting of Foreign Volunteers
Tuesday, 12 July, 2005 | 23:12 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Banda Aceh:Following the shooting of two foreign volunteers in Aceh during their humanitarian activities, the United Nations is yet able to make any special decision regarding the carrying out of various activities in Aceh.

According to Samsuddin Berlian, a member of the information staff for the United Nations Officer for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA), the UN is still waiting for the results of an official investigation from the authorities.

“We still conduct humanitarian activities, there is no particular limitations,” Berlian told reporters on Tuesday (12/07).

He said hoped that the security for volunteers, from the UN and other institutions, would be improved and be given special attention as stipulated in international law.

“Those active in the humanitarian activities must be protected,” stated Berlian.
Abdussalem, Director of Media and Information at Islamic Public Relief, said that his organization was providing humanitarian support in Aceh as usual.

As for security, Islamic Public Relief will continue to coordinate with the government.

Therefore, staff and volunteers are also warned not to carry out activities in dangerous areas or to cross over specific borders.

Abdussalem said he considered the conflict taking place in Aceh could not yet be considered as a conflict.

Therefore, there was no reason to conduct other measures in humanitarian activities in Aceh.

“It’s unlike the conflict in Iraq,” said Abdussalem.
Jolene Zidkovich, a member of the information staff at CARE International, said that her organization was still conducting activities as usual.

However, CARE International already has special procedures for the security of their staff.
“For example, there are some areas that cannot be entered and security regulations must be obeyed,” said Zidkovich.

Based on monitoring by CARE, the recent shooting of foreign volunteers was not carried out intentionally against humanitarian workers in Aceh. (Adi Warsidi-Tempo News Room)