A long-standing commitment to Tsunami victims

A long-standing commitment to Tsunami victims

The Netherlands will make 200 million euros available for reconstruction aid for the Tsunami victims. In the next five years Indonesia and Sri Lanka, both long-standing development partners of the Netherlands, will receive extra support to deal with the long term reconstruction work in the stricken areas.

To maximize transparency, accountability and efficiency, Dutch development minister Agnes Van Ardenne has chosen to pledge US$60 million for 2005 in grant resources to a major new donor trust fund that was launched earlier this week in Jakarta.

This multi-donor trust fund pools aid resources in support of the Government's rehabilitation and reconstruction program for Aceh and North Sumatra. It was created to accelerate implementation of the recovery blueprint by providing effective and sustainable coordinated grant financing which will not add to the administrative burden of the Indonesian government.

Through the trust fund the Dutch government will select projects and areas in close cooperation with the Indonesian government, participating donors and Aceh civil society organizations. Projects will focus on water, sanitation and education - all areas in which the Netherlands has lengthy expertise. In addition, the Netherlands will help fund tsunami early warning systems.

However, monitoring rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts with an estimated total cost of US$4.5 billion will indeed make great demands on the audit systems. Therefore, the Netherlands, together with the Asian Development Bank, has decided to further bolster the Indonesian auditor's office, BPK.

By working in close cooperation with the Indonesian government, local authorities, and with other donors, and by helping the Indonesian government to monitor the reconstruction process properly, the Netherlands is showing its firm commitment to the people of Indonesia and its willingness to help them overcome this terrible tragedy.