UN helps build houses in Aceh

JAKARTA: The United Nations Human Resettlements Program (UN- Habitat) has agreed to help rebuild homes and safe shelters for people in Aceh and Nias affected by the Dec. 26 tsunami and the March 28 earthquake.

UN-Habitat will work with the Aceh and North Sumatra provincial governments in organizing the housing and rehabilitation of the affected communities to build sustainable settlements, and to mobilize international resources.

UN-Habitat executive director Anna Tibajjuka signed early this week the agreement during her official visit to the Aceh capital of Banda Aceh and Gunung Sitoli, the capital of Nias.

Nearly 600,000 people have been left homeless following the disasters. -- JP