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