Japan to finance 8 rehabilitation projects in Aceh

Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Japanese government will finance eight major rehabilitation projects in Aceh using the US$146 million in emergency assistance grants it has disbursed to the Indonesian government for the tsunami-stricken province.

"A joint committee between Japan and Indonesia overseeing the use of the funds has been established, and has agreed on what projects the funds will be allocated for," Japanese vice- ambassador Masafumi Kuroki told reporters on Tuesday.

Five of the projects, Kuroki explained, would be basic infrastructure projects, including the urgent repair of the road between Banda Aceh and the west coast city of Meulaboh, and various projects to speedily revive the local economy, particularly in the areas of general commerce and the fishing industry.

"We will help rebuild the many traditional markets which were destroyed by the tsunami," he said. "Schemes to provide nets and boats to fishermen are also underway so that they can go to sea and make a living again."

The rebuilding of the Banda Aceh-Meulaboh road, meanwhile, will be vital so organizations can transport reconstruction materials and other relief aid to the western coast.

The tsunami rendered the 300 km road, which passes through Banda Aceh, Lhok Nga, Teunom, Calang and Meulaboh, useless for trucks. Emergency relief efforts to the areas therefore had to rely on helicopters flying or ships.

Land transportation was only possible by a long trip across the island from Medan.

Kuroki added that the three other infrastructure projects would be a disaster mitigation project to improve existing canals in Banda Aceh, projects to rebuild water supply and sanitation facilities in the province's major cities, and a project to support radio and television broadcasting throughout the province.

In Banda Aceh alone, the tsunami had damaged 75 percent of the local water company's network, leaving many citizens short of clean water.

"The broadcasting project, meanwhile, would be important to provide information to Acehnese of the latest news concerning the disaster," he said.

Three remaining projects, Kuroki explained, would be projects to restore educational and health services throughout the province.

"We will help rebuild Banda Aceh's Syiah Kuala University as well as the many community health centers that were damaged by the tsunami" Kuroki said.

"We also plan to build vocational training schools, so Acehnese can improve their skills and find work."

Kuroki reiterated that Japan would continue to allocate some of the funds for emergency relief efforts, so that the Indonesian government could still buy medicine and other essential items.

Coordinating Minister of Alwi Shihab had previously announced that though the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase had begun in Aceh, emergency response activities will still be carried out as needed.

The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), meanwhile, had assessed the material damage and losses from the tsunami disaster and concluded that there was $4.5 billion of damage, but it was still assessing the exact needs for the reconstruction phase.