TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian humanitarian agency Aksi Cepat Tanggap (ACT) is providing assistance in the form of boats for fishermen in Gaza. "For the beginning step, ACT is preparing five medium-sized fishing boats for people in Gaza. We hope that all fishermen can get new boats fast eventhough this boat procurement is not easy," said ACT senior vice president Imam Akbari as reported in ACT press release yesterday.

More than 45 fishing boats in Gaza were destroyed due to the 51-day Israeli attack. The Gaza Sea, which is one of the sources of income for fishermen in Palestine, is deserted. Supplies of nutrient, especially from fresh fish from the Gaza Sea, for people in Gaza are also diminishing.

Based on the long-term ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, fishermen in Gaza should be able to fish as far as six miles from the shoreline.

According to a local volunteer, ACT is the first who provided aid in the form of fishing boats. "Some other NGOs were inspired and are now doing the same thing," said the press release.

The local volunteer also expressed gratitude to the people of Indonesia who keep providing aid to the people of Gaza despite the thousands-of-kilometers distance between Indonesia and Palestine.

NATALIA SANTI