Banda Aceh (Indonesia), May 29: The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) have extended 20 tonnes of medicine, worth USD 143,900, to Indonesia's Aceh province, for distribution in areas hit by the ongoing security restoration operation aimed at eliminating the separatist movement in the country. "The medicines, to be brought by an airplane of the Indonesian Air Force, are expected to arrive here today," head of the provincial health office, Dr Cut Idawani, said at the Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport yesterday. The medicines would be distributed to people in 16 districts and municipalities worst hit by the ongoing security restoration operation, aimed at crushing the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), Idawani said adding that they would be used to cure some 200,000 people over a period of three months. The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) has said it is facing a shortage of food and medicine for the people in the province. The PMI has deployed about 600 volunteers in all districts of Aceh.
Around 200,000 people have been displaced due to the ongoing operation in the province. Bureau Report