Frustration Mounts as Indonesians Hoist Pale Banners Over Delayed Flood Assistance

In recent times, frustrated and suffering locals in Indonesia's westernmost province have been displaying white flags over the official slow aid efforts to a wave of fatal floods.

Caused by a rare storm in November, the catastrophe resulted in the death of more than 1,000 individuals and displaced hundreds of thousands more across the island of Sumatra island. In Aceh, the most severely affected region which accounted for nearly 50% of the deaths, numerous people still are without consistent availability to clean water, supplies, power and healthcare resources.

An Official's Emotional Anguish

In a sign of just how difficult handling the situation has proven to be, the head of a region in Aceh became emotional openly earlier this month.

"Does the central government ignore [our suffering]? I don't understand," a weeping the governor said on camera.

Yet President the President has declined foreign help, insisting the state of affairs is "manageable." "Indonesia is able of overcoming this calamity," he informed his ministers in a recent meeting. The President has also thus far overlooked appeals to declare it a national emergency, which would release disaster relief money and facilitate aid distribution.

Mounting Criticism of the Government

The leadership has been increasingly criticised as slow to act, chaotic and out of touch – terms that some analysts say have come to characterise his presidency, which he was elected to in last February based on popular pledges.

Even in his first year, his flagship billion-dollar school nutrition programme has been plagued by controversy over large-scale foodborne illnesses. In August and September, a great number of people took to the streets over unemployment and soaring costs of living, in what were some of the largest public displays the nation has witnessed in a generation.

And now, his government's reaction to November's floods has proven to be another challenge for the president, although his popularity have held steady at around 78%.

Desperate Appeals for Help

Last Thursday, scores of activists gathered in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, holding pale banners and calling for that the central government allows the way to international assistance.

Among among the protesters was a young child holding a sheet of paper, which stated: "I am just three years old, I wish to grow up in a safe and healthy environment."

Although usually viewed as a sign for capitulation, the pale banners that have appeared throughout the region – on damaged rooftops, next to eroded banks and outside places of worship – are a call for global solidarity, demonstrators argue.

"These banners do not signify we are giving in. They represent a SOS to attract the notice of allies outside, to show them the circumstances in Aceh currently are very bad," stated one participant.

Whole villages have been destroyed, while widespread destruction to roads and infrastructure has also stranded many areas. Survivors have described sickness and starvation.

"How long more should we bathe in dirt and contaminated water," exclaimed another protester.

Provincial leaders have appealed to the United Nations for help, with the Aceh governor announcing he is open to aid "from anyone, anywhere".

The government has stated aid operations are ongoing on a "national scale", noting that it has allocated some 60 trillion rupiah ($3.6bn) for rebuilding efforts.

Disaster Returns

For many in the province, the plight evokes painful recollections of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, arguably the most devastating catastrophes on record.

A magnitude 9.1 ocean seismic event caused a tsunami that produced walls of water as high as 30m in height which slammed into the Indian Ocean shoreline that day, taking an believed a quarter of a million individuals in in excess of a score nations.

Aceh, previously devastated by a long-running conflict, was one of the worst-impacted. Survivors state they had only recently finished reconstructing their communities when disaster hit once more in November.

Relief came more quickly after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, although it was much more destructive, they say.

Many countries, multilateral agencies like the International Monetary Fund, and private organisations donated vast sums into the recovery effort. The Indonesian government then set up a dedicated body to coordinate funds and assistance programs.

"The international community acted and the community bounced back {quickly|