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Country Statistics

Latest IDP figure:

150,000-250,000
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Number of refugees:
(Originating from the country)

20,230 (UNHCR, June 2008)

Total Population:

22,2 million

19 July 2006

Support needed for return and re-integration of displaced Acehnese following peace agreement

Destroyed houses in return areas,
Lubuk Layu, Aceh. Julien Harneiss,
July 2006

In the wake of the peace agreement signed in August 2005 between Acehnese separatist rebels and the government, putting an end to 30 years of conflict in Indonesia's westernmost province of Aceh, thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) who were forced to leave their homes during the conflict started returning. Most of these returns have taken place to former conflict-affected areas spared by the tsunami of December 2004 but where years of fighting and lack of development have disrupted the livelihoods of all civilians. Assessments conducted by the World Bank in the past months among conflict-affected communities have revealed pressing needs with regard to housing, food, health care and livelihood assistance. Also, while the assessments concluded that it was important that assistance be provided in these areas to benefit the community as a whole, those who have been made more vulnerable by the conflict, such as IDPs, should be provided with compensation for conflict-related destruction and loss.

With little money available for non-tsunami-related aid programmes and many conflict-affected areas not accessible to foreign organisations until after the signing of the peace agreement in August 2005, most aid agencies have only recently started working in these areas where tens of thousands of people are still displaced and have seen little of government assistance in the past years. Ensuring a fair distribution of the assistance between all regions of Aceh and between all who have suffered from the conflict will help prevent jealousies and tensions between communities and contribute to the success of the peace process.

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