Medan Customs and Excise Impounds WHO Equipment
Monday, 05 June, 2006 | 15:36 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Medan: Equipment for eradicating bird flu, belonging to the World Health Organization (WHO), has been impounded at Polonia Airport, Medan.

The equipment, which is to be sent to Kubu Simbelang village, Karo regency, arrived from Singapore on May 30 and more on June 4.

The equipment from WHO comprises four packages weighing 265 kilograms, containing spraying tools, boots, masks, medicine and other health equipment.

According to WHO's liaison officer in Medan, Elia Ginting, the four packages are labeled 'protective equipment bio packaging' and were sent via Singapore.

“The equipment was sent after the WHO's laboratory recommendation about bird flu transmission in Karo was issued. It was sent in special stages for bird flu eradication personnel in Karo,” she said.

However, she acknowledged that the import documentation for the packages was not yet completed by WHO at the time of shipment from Singapore.

Meanwhile, according to Jontara Siburian, Head of the Customs Section of the Customs and Excise office at Polonia Airport, told Tempo that Customs and Excise was not going to release all of WHO's goods because it has not received the import documents until now.

“Although hey are for emergency purposes, Customs will not release the equipment yet,” he said.

Sahat Simatupang