Sustain projects in Aceh, Kalla says

Adianto P. Simamora , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 09/03/2008 10:44 AM | National

Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Tuesday urged donors to help sustain their completed rehabilitation projects in tsunami-hit Aceh province.

Kalla said donors still had to monitor and provide assistance to help improve the quality of human resources in Aceh.

"I hope the donors also consider the sustainability of their projects in Aceh, including by providing scholarships for Aceh students," Kalla told representatives of the Indonesia-Germany Disaster Relief Committee (INDOGERM-direct) at his office.

Aceh was struck by a deadly tsunami in December 2004 that killed 168,000 people and destroyed buildings and infrastructure.

Foreign donors were quick to respond with help for reconstruction and rehabilitation in Aceh and Nias provinces.

INDOGERM, under the umbrella of the German-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EKONID), is one of the donors, providing 6.5 million euros (US$9.56 million) in funding to help reconstruction efforts.

INDOGERM chairman Danny Jozal said the donations came from 50 German companies, including Siemens, Deutsche Bank, Daimler AG and Bayer, as well as individuals from both countries.

"We reported to the Vice President that our projects in Aceh have been completed, but Pak Kalla urged us to help sustain the projects, including by providing scholarships," Danny said.

The group funded 30 projects in nine districts across Aceh and Nias provinces in the education, fishery, child care, healthcare and community development sectors.

In the education sector, the committee spent 3.7 million euros rehabilitating three vocational schools in Banda Aceh and installing heavy electrical and hydraulic equipment.

"We have officially handed over the schools to the local administration," Danny said.

The tsunami damaged more than 2,000 schools in Aceh and left about 2,500 teachers dead in its wake.

INDOGERM said it also financed the construction of seven large fishing boats and fishing equipment aimed at helping fishing communities fare better.

"The boats and equipment were also handed over to (fishermen's organization) Panglima Laot in Bireuen and Meulaboh, and to a local foundation in East Aceh," Danny said.

He added INDOGERM had donated medical tools to several hospitals in Banda Aceh, including an ambulance, a photo spectrometer and X-ray machines.

In the community development field, the committee funded a solar power scheme for 43 houses and 15 streetlights in Muaratiga in Pidie.

It also constructed two water reservoirs, including the piping system and solar pumps, in Lamreh in Aceh Besar.

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