Frustration Mounts as Citizens Hoist Pale Banners Over Slow Flood Assistance

Over recent weeks, desperate and upset residents in Indonesia's westernmost province have been raising white flags over the government's sluggish aid efforts to a succession of deadly floods.

Caused by a unusual cyclone in the month of November, the deluge resulted in the death of over 1,000 people and forced out hundreds of thousands more across the region of Sumatra. In Aceh province, the hardest-hit province which accounted for about half of the deaths, a great number yet do not have ready availability to potable water, supplies, power and medicine.

A Governor's Emotional Outburst

In a demonstration of just how frustrating coping with the disaster has grown to be, the governor of a region in Aceh wept publicly recently.

"Does the national government ignore [our suffering]? It's incomprehensible," a emotional the governor stated on camera.

But President the President has rejected foreign assistance, insisting the circumstances is "manageable." "Indonesia is able of managing this crisis," he advised his government in a recent meeting. The President has also to date disregarded appeals to designate it a national disaster, which would release disaster relief money and expedite relief efforts.

Increasing Discontent of the Government

The current government has been increasingly viewed as slow to act, disorganised and out of touch – terms that certain observers contend have come to characterise his tenure, which he secured in last February based on popular promises.

Even recently, his flagship multi-billion dollar school nutrition programme has been mired in issues over widespread contamination incidents. In the latter part of the year, a great number of Indonesians demonstrated over unemployment and soaring living expenses, in what were the largest of the largest protests the country has experienced in a generation.

And now, his administration's response to November's floods has emerged as another test for the president, even as his poll numbers have stayed high at around 78%.

Desperate Pleas for Help

Last Thursday, scores of protesters assembled in Banda Aceh, Banda Aceh, holding white flags and insisting that the central government permits the door to foreign help.

Standing within the protesters was a little girl carrying a piece of paper, which stated: "I'm only very young, I want to grow up in a safe and sustainable environment."

Although usually seen as a symbol for giving up, the pale banners that have been raised all over the province – atop damaged roofs, next to washed-away banks and outside places of worship – are a signal for international support, protesters contend.

"The flags do not mean we are giving in. They serve as a cry for help to attract the notice of friends internationally, to show them the conditions in Aceh today are truly desperate," said one protester.

Entire communities have been wiped out, while extensive destruction to roads and facilities has also stranded numerous areas. Those affected have described sickness and malnutrition.

"For how much longer should we bathe in mud and the deluge," exclaimed one demonstrator.

Regional leaders have contacted the United Nations for assistance, with the Aceh governor stating he is open to support "from all sources".

Prabowo's administration has said relief efforts are under way on a "countrywide basis", stating that it has allocated some 60 trillion rupiah ($3.6bn) for reconstruction projects.

Tragedy Returns

For many in Aceh, the situation brings back difficult recollections of the 2004 tsunami, arguably the most devastating catastrophes ever.

A massive ocean earthquake unleashed a tidal wave that created waves reaching 30m in height which slammed into the Indian Ocean coastline that morning, killing an approximate a quarter of a million people in over a dozen nations.

The province, already devastated by years of conflict, was one of the most severely affected. Locals state they had barely completed rebuilding their lives when tragedy hit once more in November.

Aid came faster after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, even though it was considerably more devastating, they argue.

Various countries, global bodies like the International Monetary Fund, and charities donated significant resources into the recovery effort. The Indonesian government then set up a specific body to oversee funds and assistance programs.

"All parties responded and the community bounced back {quickly|