Tsunami in Aceh: Regional tragedy, global solution

Tsunami in Aceh: Regional tragedy, global solution

B. Lynn Pascoe, Jakarta

Images of the tsunami tragedy have faded from the news in many
parts of the world, but 10-year-old Nevin Rae of Solesbury,
Pennsylvania, U.S., has not forgotten. This elementary school
student raised US$17,000 from his fellow townsmen for tsunami
relief. Millions of Americans have done likewise, reaching into
their pockets to contribute more than $1.2 billion to show their
continuing concern. As President George W. Bush said, "The
United States is committed to helping the people who suffer.
We're committed today and we will be committed tomorrow."

As a sign of this U.S. commitment, and of our close
relationship with Indonesia, President George W. Bush will
welcome President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to Washington on May
25 for talks on tsunami relief and reconstruction. The two
presidents will hold bilateral talks at the White House in search
of ways to further strengthen our cooperation and emphasize that
our partnership with Indonesia extends far beyond the certainly
important work that we have in the aftermath of the tsunami and
earthquake.

In addition to working closely with the government of
Indonesia, the U.S. is working with partners in the international
development community -- from the Asian Development Bank, the
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank to the
Red Cross/Red Crescent and international NGOs -- to rebuild
infrastructure, restart economies, improve livelihoods, and
revive the hopes of disaster victims. Significant efforts are
already underway.

One example was the recent visit by U.S. Deputy Secretary of
State Robert Zoellick to the Acehnese village of Lhoknga where he
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for $15 million in
U.S. funding for the first phase of the Banda Aceh to Meulaboh
road, much of what was destroyed during the December 2004
earthquake and tsunami. Assistance from the U.S. Government,
through USAID, will help rebuild this essential infrastructure
and the lives of thousands of people who lost their homes and
livelihoods. To date, USAID has provided $53.3 million in
emergency food assistance, relief supplies, temporary shelter,
water and sanitation, health, livelihoods and other support for
affected communities in Aceh and North Sumatra.

At President Bush's request, Congress approved $656 million
for the tsunami relief and reconstruction fund. Of that amount,
more than half will go to rebuilding the infrastructure of the
affected economies while other funds will help victims return to
their communities through programs aimed at recreating
livelihoods, rebuilding homes, and providing other transitional
support. Funds will also be used to improve international and
U.S. tsunami early warning systems so that people in this region
will be forewarned of pending disasters.

Many of the grants to U.S. government partners and local NGOs
were for an initial three to six months and focused significant
resources on developing cash-for-work and micro-enterprise
activities to generate employment for those affected. More than
$6.3 million in grants have been made to support cash-for-work
programs. In Indonesia, for example, cash for work programs
employed more than 35,000 beneficiaries, providing $2.9 million
directly to workers.

U.S. government assistance, however, is more than matched by
the contributions of U.S. businesses, religious organizations,
academic institutions, and individuals that have provided
financial and personnel resources quickly and directly to
affected communities. Over 130 U.S. companies each provided at
least $1,000,000 in cash, products and services including water
purification systems, transport, and basic food, water and
shelter to local and international relief agencies.

Equally impressive are the ongoing efforts by individual
Americans and NGOs. For example, Habitat for Humanity organized
volunteer teams of construction specialists that will help 30-
35,000 families rebuild their homes. The "Kids Tsunami Relief
Fund" in New York City is raising money to help rebuild a school
in Pottuvil, Sri Lanka, and a medical clinic in nearby Kirinda.

In order to ensure governments and institutions maintain the
momentum of international support that is so crucial to Indonesia
and the region's long-term tsunami reconstruction and recovery,
co-chairs of the U.S. Private Sector Tsunami Relief, George H.W.
Bush and Bill Clinton, engaged government officials from the
hardest hit countries, corporate representatives,
philanthropists, financial institutions and NGOs to participate
in a focused dialogue on the necessities, priorities and
challenges of the reconstruction phase.

Also in attendance at the one-day "private sector summit on
post-tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction" in Washington, DC
was Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister of National Development
Planning, who said it is vital to make sure a credible,
coordinated system is established among donors, governments and
other involved parties. She was joined by Azwar Abubakar, Acting
Governor of Aceh and Vice Chairman of the Executing Agency for
Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Aceh and Nias.

Not long after the tsunami struck, an Indonesian poet from
devastated Aceh province wrote: "Never ask where Meulaboh is.
Never ask where Bireuen is...their maps have crumbled. Their maps
have been washed away." Today volunteers from the American
Friends Service Committee are helping figuratively to redraw the
maps of Meulaboh and Bireuen, using more than $4 million in
donations to meet medical needs and rebuild a wounded society.

These are but a few of the ways in which Americans are showing
solidarity with friends in need. Through the continued efforts
of our leaders and citizens, the United States pledges to work
closely with the United Nations and the international community
to ensure a transparent and sustainable reconstruction process,
most of all, to guarantee that the people devastated by the
Indian Ocean tsunami are not forgotten.

The writer is U.S. Ambassador for Indonesia.