What happened to Japanese tsunami aid?
What happened to Japanese tsunami aid?
After the tsunami hit Aceh and several other parts of Asia,
almost all countries in the world vied to show deep sympathy for
the victims by sending relief workers and various types of aid.
Japan, which has a reputation as the world's biggest donors to
poor countries, promised to provide 52.2 billion yen in relief
funds to all countries affected by the natural disaster,
including 14.6 billion yen (about US$146 million) for the Aceh
people, who suffered the brunt of the disaster's impact. It was
among the biggest amount promised by any nation. And it again
showed the Japanese to have unrelenting compassion towards those
in need.
What has happened to these pledged funds? Several press
reports in Japan over the past several weeks indicate that
"something wrong" has happened with the grant aid. The Japanese
government has assigned the Japan International Cooperation
System (JICS) to manage and distribute the funds.
JICS is a foundation formed by the Japanese Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to channel Japan's Official Development
Assistance. According to the recent reports in Japanese media,
including Weekly Post and Weekly Gendai, none of the relief funds
have been distributed, now over six months after the natural
disaster.
There are also documents indicating that the funds could have
been channeled through various ministries in Indonesia. It is
also reported that JICS had used up 311 million yen in funds as
"management fees" despite the fact that not a single yen of the
grant aid has been distributed to the Aceh people. Does the JICS
deserve a fee for managing the funds allocated for the Aceh
people that have lost almost all of their property and family
members?
Meanwhile, the whereabouts of the money remains a question
mark? Where are the funds now? The Japanese press has made a fuss
about this, but thus far, none of the Indonesian press has
reported this.
All Japanese people, who care about the fate of the Aceh
people, need to know where the funds are now. The Japanese and
Indonesian governments need to openly tell the public about this.
MOH. FATARURACHMAN REKSONEGORO, Jakarta