Japan to finance 8 rehabilitation projects in Aceh<\/p>\n
Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Japanese government will finance eight major rehabilitation
\nprojects in Aceh using the US$146 million in emergency assistance
\ngrants it has disbursed to the Indonesian government for the
\ntsunami-stricken province.<\/p>\n
\"A joint committee between Japan and Indonesia overseeing the
\nuse of the funds has been established, and has agreed on what
\nprojects the funds will be allocated for,\" Japanese vice-
\nambassador Masafumi Kuroki told reporters on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Five of the projects, Kuroki explained, would be basic
\ninfrastructure projects, including the urgent repair of the road
\nbetween Banda Aceh and the west coast city of Meulaboh, and
\nvarious projects to speedily revive the local economy,
\nparticularly in the areas of general commerce and the fishing
\nindustry.<\/p>\n
\"We will help rebuild the many traditional markets which were
\ndestroyed by the tsunami,\" he said. \"Schemes to provide nets and
\nboats to fishermen are also underway so that they can go to sea
\nand make a living again.\"<\/p>\n
The rebuilding of the Banda Aceh-Meulaboh road, meanwhile,
\nwill be vital so organizations can transport reconstruction
\nmaterials and other relief aid to the western coast.<\/p>\n
The tsunami rendered the 300 km road, which passes through
\nBanda Aceh, Lhok Nga, Teunom, Calang and Meulaboh, useless for
\ntrucks. Emergency relief efforts to the areas therefore had to
\nrely on helicopters flying or ships.<\/p>\n
Land transportation was only possible by a long trip across
\nthe island from Medan.<\/p>\n
Kuroki added that the three other infrastructure projects
\nwould be a disaster mitigation project to improve existing canals
\nin Banda Aceh, projects to rebuild water supply and sanitation
\nfacilities in the province's major cities, and a project to
\nsupport radio and television broadcasting throughout the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
In Banda Aceh alone, the tsunami had damaged 75 percent of the
\nlocal water company's network, leaving many citizens short of
\nclean water.<\/p>\n
\"The broadcasting project, meanwhile, would be important to
\nprovide information to Acehnese of the latest news concerning the
\ndisaster,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Three remaining projects, Kuroki explained, would be projects
\nto restore educational and health services throughout the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
\"We will help rebuild Banda Aceh's Syiah Kuala University as
\nwell as the many community health centers that were damaged by
\nthe tsunami\" Kuroki said.<\/p>\n
\"We also plan to build vocational training schools, so
\nAcehnese can improve their skills and find work.\"<\/p>\n
Kuroki reiterated that Japan would continue to allocate some
\nof the funds for emergency relief efforts, so that the Indonesian
\ngovernment could still buy medicine and other essential items.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister of Alwi Shihab had previously announced
\nthat though the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase had begun
\nin Aceh, emergency response activities will still be carried out
\nas needed.<\/p>\n
The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas),
\nmeanwhile, had assessed the material damage and losses from the
\ntsunami disaster and concluded that there was $4.5 billion of
\ndamage, but it was still assessing the exact needs for the
\nreconstruction phase.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/japan-to-finance-8-rehabilitation-projects-in-aceh-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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