BANDA ACEH: The United Nations warned on Monday that tsunami survivors could develop "dependency syndrome" as they became reliant on foreign aid after the destruction of their livelihoods.
UN relief coordinator for the badly-hit Indonesian province of Aceh, Joel Bout roue, said that with plenty of supplies now reaching most affected by the December 26 disaster, long-term plans were needed to ensure a stable future.
"I would say that now we need to sit down and plan for the middle- and long-term so that we are ensured that the population does not develop a dependency syndrome," Bout roue told reporters in the devastated city of Banda Aceh.
The United Nations urged international donors to stump up almost one billion dollars of emergency aid to help people affected by the tsunamis, which killed 227,000 people on shorelines around the Indian Ocean.
A huge humanitarian operation was mounted to bring food, medical and water supplies to millions left with nothing by the disaster. Bout roue said at least two-months of rations had now been distributed to most families, but although aid should continue, it needed to be diversified.
"We are now ready to sit down with the government to discuss the type of assistance we want or should be given, to avoid any dependency syndrome while also avoiding having people vulnerable," he said. He gave no timetable but said assistance would continue until "the population can feed itself or has the purchasing power to feed itself". -AFP
