Frustration Grows as Residents Hoist White Flags Due to Slow Disaster Aid

For weeks, angry and distressed locals in the nation's westernmost region have been displaying pale banners due to the state's delayed response to a series of lethal inundations.

Caused by a rare storm in November, the flooding killed in excess of 1,000 people and made homeless hundreds of thousands more across the island of Sumatra. In Aceh, the worst-hit region which was responsible for nearly 50% of the casualties, numerous people continue to are without easy access to clean water, supplies, electricity and medical supplies.

A Governor's Emotional Anguish

In a sign of just how frustrating managing the crisis has proven to be, the governor of a region in Aceh wept openly earlier this month.

"Does the central government be unaware of [what we're experiencing]? It's incomprehensible," a tearful the governor stated on camera.

But Leader the President has refused foreign aid, maintaining the circumstances is "manageable." "Indonesia is able of handling this disaster," he told his ministers in a recent meeting. The President has also so far disregarded appeals to classify it a national disaster, which would free up special funds and facilitate recovery operations.

Increasing Discontent of the Leadership

The current government has increasingly been viewed as reactive, disorganised and disconnected – adjectives that certain observers argue have become synonymous with his presidency, which he was elected to in last February riding a wave of popular pledges.

Already in his first year, his flagship billion-dollar school nutrition scheme has been embroiled in issues over mass foodborne illnesses. In the latter part of the year, many thousands of people protested over unemployment and soaring living expenses, in what were some of the largest demonstrations the country has experienced in decades.

And now, his government's reaction to the deluge has become a further challenge for the president, despite the fact that his approval ratings have remained stable at about 78%.

Urgent Pleas for Assistance

Last Thursday, scores of activists assembled in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, holding pale banners and insisting that the government in Jakarta opens the path to foreign assistance.

Among in the gathering was a young child clutching a piece of paper, which read: "I am just three years old, I wish to live in a safe and stable place."

Although normally regarded as a emblem for surrender, the white flags that have popped up across the province – upon collapsed rooftops, along eroded riverbanks and near mosques – are a call for global unity, demonstrators argue.

"The flags do not mean we are surrendering. They serve as a SOS to grab the focus of the world outside, to let them know the conditions in Aceh today are extremely dire," said one local.

Complete villages have been wiped out, while widespread destruction to infrastructure and public works has also stranded a lot of people. Victims have reported disease and malnutrition.

"For how much longer should we cleanse in dirt and contaminated water," exclaimed a protester.

Local authorities have appealed to the international body for support, with the local official announcing he is open to support "from all sources".

National authorities has said aid operations are in progress on a "large scale", stating that it has released approximately 60 trillion rupiah ($3.6bn) for recovery work.

Tragedy Returns

For many in the province, the situation brings back painful memories of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, among the worst calamities ever.

A massive undersea seismic event triggered a tsunami that triggered waves reaching 30m in height which struck the ocean coastline that morning, killing an believed a quarter of a million lives in over a dozen nations.

The province, previously affected by years of civil war, was part of the worst-impacted. Survivors explain they had just finished rebuilding their communities when disaster struck again in November.

Aid came more quickly following the 2004 tsunami, even though it was much more destructive, they contend.

Numerous countries, multilateral agencies like the World Bank, and charities poured significant resources into the rebuilding process. The Jakarta then created a dedicated agency to manage finances and assistance programs.

"All parties acted and the region rebuilt {quickly|