ACknowledge

United Nations High Commission for Refugees
Web site: www.unhcr.org

AC reports and research:
RedR reports: Nias and Calang housing projects - Reports by UNHCR logistics officer Cameron Kiss (Nias) and Christine Vincent (Calang)
Report as UNHCR phased down in Aceh
Extensive UNHCR paper about delivering aid in emergencies - Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN),29 Jun 06
NGOs cite issues causing under-achieving, BRR relents on criticism
RedR in the UN and NGO networking
Kalimantan timber imported for NGOs' free use on Nias Island

UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has already closed three offices (Lamno, Calang and Meulaboh) on the west coast and arranged for the transfer of supplies and assets and the dismantling of telecommunications and other equipment. Staff will depart Banda Aceh by the end of this week.

At the request of the UN Country Team, UNHCR in January 2006 presented a six-month, $60-million operational plan for Aceh, focusing primarily on shelter needs. About $33 million of the amount raised remains available, while $7 million has already been spent. If UNHCR is not requested to take part in the reconstruction phase, it will be consulting with its donors on the use of the unspent funds. Options could include reimbursement to donors or transfer to other agreed agencies. UNHCR is currently in the process of discussing these and other options with its donors.

UNHCR does not normally respond to natural disasters and its programme in Aceh was unprecedented. Given the enormity of the tsunami crisis, it was asked to join the United Nations emergency response effort and quickly mounted a programme to help provide shelter and other assistance to some 100,000 people along Aceh's devastated west coast. It deployed mobile teams to temporary field locations in Medan, Banda Aceh, Meulaboh, Calang and Lamno. Swiss helicopters and sea transport provided by the Indonesian Army were used to transport lightweight tents, plastic sheeting, jerry cans, kitchen sets, blankets and locally produced plastic sleeping mats. UNHCR also developed a strategy to support early return and the provision of permanent housing units to the affected population in some of the smaller coastal communities.

UNHCR understands the government's desire to review and rationalise the huge humanitarian effort in Aceh as it now prepares for the next important stage – long-term reconstruction. UNHCR remains ready to provide support in that stage if requested to do so by the government.

UNHCR

Source: UNHCR report

Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) paper of 29 Jun 06
About the complexities of delivering aid, affect of world media spotlight, the machinery of aid include military role, larger NGOs drawing on resources, smaller NGOs calling on their governments, logistics of shipping in aid, constraints like banditry and poor roads, getting it delivered to the needy, special role for helicopters, doctors and other professionals, dealing with poverty and corruption.
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