Frustration Mounts as Indonesians Fly White Flags Amid Slow Disaster Aid

For weeks, angry and distressed inhabitants in Indonesia's westernmost province have been displaying flags of surrender in protest of the state's slow reaction to a succession of deadly floods.

Caused by a rare storm in last November, the flooding resulted in the death of in excess of 1,000 people and forced out hundreds of thousands more across the region of Sumatra island. In Aceh province, the most severely affected province which represented about 50% of the casualties, a great number continue to lack easy access to potable water, nourishment, power and medical supplies.

A Leader's Public Breakdown

In a demonstration of just how challenging coping with the situation has proven to be, the governor of North Aceh wept publicly earlier this month.

"Does the authorities in Jakarta not know [our plight]? It baffles me," a tearful the governor declared publicly.

But Leader Prabowo Subianto has refused foreign assistance, insisting the state of affairs is "under control." "Our country is capable of managing this calamity," he advised his cabinet recently. The President has also to date overlooked demands to declare it a national emergency, which would free up special funds and streamline recovery operations.

Mounting Scrutiny of the Government

The current government has increasingly been viewed as reactive, disorganised and detached – adjectives that experts contend have come to define his tenure, which he was elected to in last February on the back of popular promises.

Already in his first year, his flagship multi-billion dollar free school meals scheme has been plagued by scandal over mass foodborne illnesses. In August and September, many thousands of citizens protested over unemployment and increasing living expenses, in what were the largest of the biggest public displays the nation has experienced in many years.

And now, his administration's reaction to the deluge has emerged as another test for the leader, even as his popularity have remained stable at approximately 78%.

Desperate Pleas for Aid

Recently, dozens of protesters rallied in Banda Aceh, Banda Aceh, waving pale banners and calling for that the national authorities opens the door to foreign assistance.

Present within the crowd was a small girl carrying a sheet of paper, which stated: "I am just very young, I want to mature in a safe and stable environment."

Though usually seen as a sign for giving up, the white flags that have popped up throughout the region – on collapsed roofs, along washed-away riverbanks and near mosques – are a call for international unity, those involved argue.

"These symbols do not signify we are admitting defeat. They serve as a SOS to capture the focus of friends internationally, to show them the conditions in Aceh currently are extremely dire," stated one local.

Entire settlements have been wiped out, while broad destruction to roads and public works has also cut off numerous people. Victims have described sickness and malnutrition.

"For how much longer must we cleanse in mud and the deluge," cried another demonstrator.

Regional leaders have appealed to the international body for help, with the local official stating he welcomes help "from anyone, anywhere".

The government has claimed aid operations are in progress on a "large scale", adding that it has allocated about 60 trillion rupiah (a large amount) for rebuilding efforts.

Calamity Strikes Again

For some in the province, the plight evokes traumatic recollections of the 2004 Indian Ocean devastating tidal wave, arguably the most devastating catastrophes ever.

A powerful ocean seismic event caused a tidal wave that produced walls of water as high as 100 feet in height which hit the Indian Ocean shoreline that day, taking an approximate 230,000 people in more than a number of nations.

The province, previously devastated by decades of civil war, was among the most severely affected. Survivors explain they had barely completed reconstructing their lives when disaster struck again in November.

Aid arrived faster after the 2004 Indian Ocean disaster, even though it was considerably more destructive, they argue.

Many nations, international organizations like the World Bank, and NGOs poured billions of dollars into the recovery effort. The Indonesian government then established a dedicated body to oversee finances and reconstruction work.

"All parties acted and the region rebuilt {quickly|