Japan to finance 8 rehabilitation projects in Aceh

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.