Red Cross to embark on massive reconstruction project in Aceh<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) and dozens of its international
\ncounterparts are teaming up to take an active role in the
\nrehabilitation and reconstruction of Aceh and North Sumatra, Red
\nCross representatives said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
In meetings that began earlier this week, 32 Red Cross and Red
\nCrescent Societies of a total of about 180 worldwide met in
\nJakarta to lay down a solid plan of action for rehabilitation and
\nreconstruction in the tsunami-affected areas.<\/p>\n
The meeting was organized by PMI with the support of the
\nInternational Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
\nsocieties (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross
\n(ICRC).<\/p>\n
The final draft of the project will likely be finished soon,
\nat which time it \"will be delivered to the government as an input
\nand contribution for the government's consideration,\" according
\nto a press statement.<\/p>\n
The project, if approved, will last for at least five years
\nand will cover a wide and comprehensive range of humanitarian
\nassistance, including basic health care, hospital upgrades, water
\ndistribution and sanitation, food and non-food relief
\ndistribution, rebuilding of schools and clinics (locally known as
\nPuskesmas), psychological support, family reunification and
\nincome-generation support.<\/p>\n
\"The people in Aceh need sustainable income so we are
\ncommitted to helping them,\" said Mar'ie Muhammad, the PMI chief.<\/p>\n
\"We are now in a transitional period from emergency to
\nrehabilitation and reconstruction. The 32 societies represented
\nat the meeting acknowledged the need for a stronger and better-
\norganized plan of action. To build is not difficult, but
\nmaintaining what has been built, is,\" Mar'ie explained.<\/p>\n
PMI, which does not usually help in reconstruction phases
\nafter disasters, will assist the government, due to the large
\nscale of the calamity and crucial land problems, according to Ole
\nJohan Hauge, ICRC's Head of Delegation for Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Johan Schaar, Special Representative of the IFRC Secretary
\nGeneral for tsunami operations, said, \"It is our obligation to
\nsupport PMI, which needs capacity-building (to improve) its
\nability to provide humanitarian aid. Our mandate is to coordinate
\nand act when natural disasters happen.\"<\/p>\n
Both Schaar and Hauge added that the long-term projects would
\nnot take over the government's role in handling the aid effort in
\nthe wake of the catastrophe. Instead, PMI will provide an
\n\"auxiliary function\" in supporting and providing contributions
\nbased on the government's plan and regulations. The plan will be
\nconsistent with the local and national culture and religious
\nvalues.<\/p>\n
\"It is therefore important to keep the local and national Red
\nCross at the center, which was why PMI invited their Aceh branch
\nmembers for a meeting in Lhokseumawe in early January to gather
\ninformation on what kind of help was needed in the area,\" Hauge
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The size of the budget for the project would be difficult to
\ncalculate, according to Mar'ie and Hauge, as help would be given
\nin cash and in kind on a per project basis. Instead of allocating
\na specific budget, donation requests will be made each time a
\nproject's assessment comes out for specific areas.<\/p>\n
Mar'ie said that about 10 community health centers and 10
\nprimary schools would be built in Aceh as part of the first
\nphase. He added that the projects would also be focus on
\nimproving PMI's expertise and human resources nationwide.
\n\"Capacity-building is important because Indonesia is highly prone
\nto many kinds of disasters,\" he said.(005)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/red-cross-to-embark-on-massive-reconstruction-project-in-aceh-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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