The rebuilding of Aceh
The rebuilding of Aceh
The last thing the Acehnese will want to do is sit around and
do nothing. They will need building materials, tools, nails, claw
hammers, pumps, pipes, corrugated sheeting, portable generators,
fuel and whatever else is required -- and they want that now.
Activity will help take their minds off the many terrible
losses, and the rebuilding will give everyone a new and much
needed sense of direction. Getting the people back to work is not
only good for morale, but also good for the spirit.
As stories unfold, the aid workers and the foreign journalists
will quickly realize that the people themselves know
exactly what they want and what they need to do. Everyone
worldwide responded almost immediately, but then quickly it
became apparent that to do what was required was far from
straightforward because of a number of very good reasons.
Conflict was one which sadly lingers on and remains a danger.
Infrastructure -- or the lack of it-- is another. Too much aid
too quickly is an understandable human error that stems from a
disaster of enormous proportions. It needs practical people to
run the shooting match as they are best placed to know what is
required to do.
You don't want a politician or a legislator when a house needs
rebuilding -- you need a carpenter, a plumber and a civil
engineer. Get the right people, the right tradesmen and
equipment/materials so the people of Aceh can visually see
improvements coming along and then just watch the momentum grow.
Get good and reliable people in charge of the finances and
make a severe example of anyone who abuses this situation.
For the first time the other day I heard laughter down the
telephone from someone who has lost many family members, and the
funny thing was it didn't surprise me at all, as the spirit and
the resilience of the Acehnese is not only characteristic, but is
also something that will never die.
We should also thank the many willing hands that are currently
struggling to make it all work -- for that is one hell of a job
being carried out under extremely difficult circumstances.
DAVID WALLIS
Medan, North Sumatra