U.N. Special Envoy Requests Input From Indonesian Red Cross Chairman

Jakarta, Oct 23 (Antara) - The UN`s special envoy for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) Abdullah Al Matouq has asked Indonesian-Red Cross (PMI) Chairman Jusuf Kalla for suggestions on channeling humanitarian assistance to Rakhine, Myanmar. Matouq made this request during his meeting with Kalla in Istanbul, Turkey, on Tuesday, Kalla`s media spokesperson Husain Abdullah said on Wednesday. According to Matouq, his side needs Kalla`s advice because the PMI chairman has visited Rakhine twice and has experience with handling sensitive issues related to religious, racial, ethnic, and group (SARA) differences. Kalla suggested that humanitarian missions to Rakhine should pay a great deal of respect to the principles of neutrality and should prioritize humanitarian goals to ensure that aid packages are properly channeled between parties engaged in conflict. The PMI chairman said the best forms of assistance were food and resettlement facilities because many victims still lived in refugee camps and needed food and settlement areas. Kalla suggested purchasing food assistance in Myanmar was the most efficient way of providing aid, given the country`s abundant rice production. Regarding materials needed for the construction of settlements, Kalla noted that some could be imported and others could be bought from the domestic market. Answering Matouq`s question on access to the country, Kalla reminded him that Myanmar is transitioning to a democratic process, so it is easier to enter the country through a UN OCHA mission. The UN OCHA, a body at the UN secretariat, is responsible for handling humanitarian matters across the world and coordinating with UN member nations to provide humanitarian assistance. Besides discussing matters related to the ethnic conflict in Myanmar, Matouq also conveyed the desire of the Kuwaiti government to invest in Indonesia`s syariah-based banking business, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. He also praised the function of mosques in Indonesia, which serve not only as a place to offer prayers but also as a medium for social functions.