The world 'won't abandon Aceh'<\/p>\n
Reuters, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton promised survivors of
\nIndonesia's tsunami-ravaged province of Aceh on Wednesday that
\nthe international community would never abandon them.<\/p>\n
Clinton, the U.N's envoy for tsunami relief, is assessing the
\nprogress of reconstruction efforts following the Dec. 26 tsunami
\nthat left up to 232,000 people dead or missing in a dozen Indian
\nOcean nations, including nearly 170,000 in Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"After the one year commemoration of the tsunami next month,
\nthe world attention might shift elsewhere,\" Clinton said in a
\nspeech to survivors, aid workers and government officials.<\/p>\n
\"But the assistance of the international community, the United
\nNations, the Indonesian government, NGOs large and small, will
\nstay with you until Pak (Mr) Kuntoro's job is done,\" he said
\nreferring to Kuntoro Mangkubroto, who heads the reconstruction
\nagency in Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"We are working to rebuild your future,\" said Clinton, who is
\nmaking his third tour of the tsunami region to ensure that aid is
\nbeing put to good use and to keep the world's attention on one of
\nthe worst natural catastrophes in history.<\/p>\n
During his one-day trip to Aceh, Clinton placed floral wreaths
\nat a mass grave and visited a crowded camp for the homeless in
\nthe flattened village of Kahju, just outside the provincial
\ncapital.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of thousands of survivors are still living in tents
\nor barracks throughout Aceh province -- lying on the northern tip
\nof Sumatra island -- 11 months after a 9.15 magnitude earthquake,
\nthe strongest in four decades, unleashed the most devastating
\ntsunami on record.<\/p>\n
Aceh suffered almost all the damage from that disaster. The
\ndisaster effectively destroyed much basic infrastructure in
\ntsunami-hit areas. Up to 120,000 houses were destroyed and
\nhundreds of kilometers of roads were ruined.<\/p>\n
Clinton arrived in Indonesian from Sri Lanka, where he said he
\nwas concerned by the island's troubled peace process between the
\ngovernment and Tamil Tiger rebels. Some analysts say war is
\npossible.<\/p>\n
\"If there were, God forbid, a return to significant violence
\nit would significantly impact on the (rebuilding) process,\" he
\nsaid. \"I'm certainly worried about it. But everyone I have spoken
\nto is aware of the risks and I hope that they are also well aware
\nof the opportunities.\"<\/p>",
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