Susilo asks donors to fulfill pledges<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
With reconstruction projects in tsunami-stricken Aceh proceeding
\nto slowly for the likes of many, President Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono called on donor countries to immediately disburse
\npledged funds.<\/p>\n
"There is (pledged) financial aid from several countries which
\nhas yet to materialize. There is a need for a cooperation under
\nthe United Nations scheme to ensure these countries will
\nimmediately disburse the funds," he said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has received US$1.2 billion so far from the $3.5
\nbillion pledged to it immediately after the disaster.<\/p>\n
Susilo said he had conveyed the problems to UN Secretary-
\nGeneral Kofi Annan during his state visit to New York earlier
\nthis month.<\/p>\n
The government started the reconstruction phase in Aceh and
\nparts of North Sumatra in March, after the Dec. 26 earthquake and
\ntsunami killed more than 130,000 people.<\/p>\n
The reconstruction cost is expected to reach up to Rp 10
\ntrillion (US$9.8 billion) for this year alone, and Rp 45 trillion
\nmore over the next five years.<\/p>\n
Susilo said the pledged funds would be needed to help finance
\nthe construction of 12,000 houses for tsunami victims in Aceh. At
\npresent, the government could only build half that number.<\/p>\n
"The UN has expressed its concern that if the housing
\nconstruction is delayed, it will caused further problems related
\nto sanitation, education and the other daily activities of the
\nvictims," he said.<\/p>\n
The government plans to build some 30,000 houses during the
\nnext five years.<\/p>\n
Aid agencies and the Indonesian government have come under
\nfire for moving too slowly on reconstruction.<\/p>\n
Last week, Eric Morris, the newly installed UN Recovery
\nCoordinator for Aceh and Nias, blasted aid agencies for
\noverlooking the needs of the 150,000 survivors still living in
\ntent camps, AP reported.<\/p>\n
The UN has called for the construction of 15,000 prefabricated
\nhomes in Aceh over the next six months for families still living
\nin tent camps. In the meantime, 27,000 new tents will be given
\nout to survivors.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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