Nias Online

ELCA NEWS SERVICE – July 3, 2006

Lutherans and Muslims Assess Tsunami Relief, Plan Cooperation 06-093-FI

MEDAN, Indonesia (ELCA) — The earthquake and tsunami of December 2004 was centered off the coast of Banda Aceh, Indonesia. The predominantly Muslim area began working closely with Christian relief agencies, and inter-religious friendships developed across the region. Approximately 85 Muslim and Lutheran leaders came here to the capital of the North Sumatra province for a seminar, “Dialogue in Life,” June 27-30 to discuss and plan their future cooperation in meeting human needs.

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*This will include $10 million to establish a Nias Reconstruction Program
Indonesian and Australian Joint Commission Ministers today (29 June 2006) announced $63 million of additional development assistance to Indonesia, including $30 million to meet ongoing rebuilding needs in Yogyakarta following the recent earthquake.

The 27 May earthquake had a devastating impact on Yogyakarta and surrounding areas in Central Java, especially the districts of Bantul and Klaten. The death toll is now around 5,800, tens of thousands more have been injured and hundreds of thousands left homeless. Full story …

BRR truck-buying plan criticized
Saturday, June 17, 2006BANDA ACEH, Aceh: The Aceh and Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR) is back in the spotlight with a plan to purchase a four-wheel drive pickup truck as an official vehicle for agency head Kuntoro Mangkusubroto.

Activists immediately criticized the plan to purchase a Toyota Hilux, which a source estimated would cost Rp 486 million (US$51.157).

"The plan seems inefficient and a waste of money," said the head of the Aceh-based Anti Corruption Movement, Akhiruddin Mahjudin.

He said the plan showed the agency's insensitivity toward tsunami survivors, many of whom are still living in makeshift tents. "Besides, common cars can now handle roads in the western area, so the plan is difficult to accept," he said.

The agency's spokesman, Mirza Keumala, said the vehicle would make it easier for Kuntoro to travel to places where the roads are still in bad shape. — JP

Saturday, June 10, 2006

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

House of Representatives lawmakers are unhappy with the performance of the Aceh-Nias Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (BRR).

In its single year of existence the BRR had done little to build much-needed infrastructure in Aceh and Nias, House Speaker Agung Laksono said.

"We are very disappointed (with the BRR) as we had imagined that brand-new cities would rise from the debris of regions hit by the tsunami. But this has not materialized," Agung said.

Agung said that in the two hardest-hit areas in Banda Aceh, Lampase and Uleuleu, conditions were virtually the same as they were days after the tidal wave struck on Dec 26, 2004.

"There is no city planning; everything is in chaos. The results don't match the excessive amounts of foreign aid that has poured in," he said.

Earlier this week during a visit to Aceh, Agung said he was concerned about the poor quality of houses the BRR built for tsunami survivors.

Many did not even have toilets, he said.

Responding to Agung's criticism, BRR chief Kuntoro Mangkusubroto said his agency would improve the quality of more than 41,000 houses scheduled to be built later this year.

The House called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla to summon BRR executives to account for their work.

The House, meanwhile, plans to summon 11 Cabinet ministers to question them on the reconstruction's progress.

Muhaimin Iskandar, who chairs the House monitoring team for the Aceh and Nias reconstruction, said a meeting with the ministers was scheduled for next week.

He said BRR executives could not argue that the need for consultation with locals had slowed the rebuilding process down because construction decisions had already been made and the Rp 1.52 trillion fund for the projects had been disbursed.

The BRR was established on April 16, 2005, for a four-year period.

The agency's stated mission is to restore and strengthen communities in Aceh and Nias by designing and overseeing a coordinated, community-driven reconstruction and development program, implemented according to the highest professional standards.

Tsunami recovery: Taking stock after 12 months

Executive Summary

This report, from the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery, former US President Bill Clinton, documents the status of the recovery effort at 12 months. More …

By Anna Stechert

GUNUNGSITOLI, Indonesia, 10 May 2006 — Well over a year since a violent earthquake shook the island of Nias in Indonesia, killing 800 people and destroying 90 per cent of the infrastructure, UNICEF continues to offer vital protection for children. More …

Jakarta, May 9, 2006 — The Agency for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (BRR) of Aceh and Nias today holds the second high-level Coordination Forum for Aceh and Nias (CFAN2) attended by Ministers, BRR, local governments of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and North Sumatra, Ambassadors, stakeholder representatives and Agency Heads of NGOs and donor agencies including the World Bank, United Nations, local and international NGOs, bilateral and multilateral institutions, and civil society. More …