The UN agency helping feed tsunami victims said today it was sending its first ship to deliver food to ravaged west coast areas in Indonesia's Aceh province - a sign that civilian groups are preparing to fill the gap as foreign troops begin pulling out.
The World Food Programme shipment came on the same day that the Indonesian government said the emergency phase of Aceh relief operations is almost over, and that civilian aid workers should soon replace troops in delivering food and shelter to survivors.
"We are now opening up isolated areas through ground transportation, so we don't need more helicopters," said Welfare Minister Mr Alwi Shihab.
We need more pickups to go all around isolated villages." Touring one of 50 sites where shelters are being built for 100,000 survivors, Mr Shihab said it was "only logical" that the US, Singaporean and other foreign forces, who came in to help after the disaster, begin pulling out.
"The emergency stage is almost behind us, so the military will no longer give their contribution," he said. "Civilians are more effective."
Conflicting figures put the total death toll from Indonesia to Somalia at between 158,000 and 225,000.
Late last week, the US military said it would start scaling back its huge military contingent, based on ships off Sumatra island, where Aceh is located.
US helicopters have been vital in getting aid to remote towns and villages cut off when roads were torn up and bridges crushed by the December 26 earthquake and the giant waves it triggered.
Aid organisations responded to news of the US scale-back with disappointment, but pledged to shoulder a greater share of the relief burden.
A 400-ton landing vessel carrying World Food Programme aid was due to arrive in Sumatra's coastal Calang city for its first delivery, said program spokesman Mr Gerald Bourke.
Thousands of victims are at a makeshift camp among the ruins of the destroyed city.
AP