The world 'won't abandon Aceh'

The world 'won't abandon Aceh'

Reuters, Banda Aceh

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton promised survivors of Indonesia's tsunami-ravaged province of Aceh on Wednesday that the international community would never abandon them.

Clinton, the U.N's envoy for tsunami relief, is assessing the progress of reconstruction efforts following the Dec. 26 tsunami that left up to 232,000 people dead or missing in a dozen Indian Ocean nations, including nearly 170,000 in Aceh.

"After the one year commemoration of the tsunami next month, the world attention might shift elsewhere," Clinton said in a speech to survivors, aid workers and government officials.

"But the assistance of the international community, the United Nations, the Indonesian government, NGOs large and small, will stay with you until Pak (Mr) Kuntoro's job is done," he said referring to Kuntoro Mangkubroto, who heads the reconstruction agency in Aceh.

"We are working to rebuild your future," said Clinton, who is making his third tour of the tsunami region to ensure that aid is being put to good use and to keep the world's attention on one of the worst natural catastrophes in history.

During his one-day trip to Aceh, Clinton placed floral wreaths at a mass grave and visited a crowded camp for the homeless in the flattened village of Kahju, just outside the provincial capital.

Hundreds of thousands of survivors are still living in tents or barracks throughout Aceh province -- lying on the northern tip of Sumatra island -- 11 months after a 9.15 magnitude earthquake, the strongest in four decades, unleashed the most devastating tsunami on record.

Aceh suffered almost all the damage from that disaster. The disaster effectively destroyed much basic infrastructure in tsunami-hit areas. Up to 120,000 houses were destroyed and hundreds of kilometers of roads were ruined.

Clinton arrived in Indonesian from Sri Lanka, where he said he was concerned by the island's troubled peace process between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels. Some analysts say war is possible.

"If there were, God forbid, a return to significant violence it would significantly impact on the (rebuilding) process," he said. "I'm certainly worried about it. But everyone I have spoken to is aware of the risks and I hope that they are also well aware of the opportunities."