Delayed Tsunami Aid Stirs Criticism

In the wake of Indonesian crises, criticism of delayed aid has overwhelmed reports of the natural disaster.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the continuous eruptions of Mt. Merapi have only complicated matters, displacing over 69,000 in Java.

Poor weather conditions, and an active volcano has certainly frustrated relief workers from reaching the outlying islands; however, those who have been stranded without aid for over a week are blaming the government for their inadequate response rate. Al Jeezera criticizes the "poorly resourced and planned operation," which has left survivors in the more isolated regions of Mentawai on their own to find food, shelter, and even bodies.

The Atlantic identifies the country's overtaxed infrastructure and initial resistance to foreign aid as potential reasons for the poor response; however, an aide to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono denies the criticism, and tells the Wall Street Journal that he believes the Merapi response has been "well organized" in spite of the unique challenges that relief workers have faced.