Feb 28, 2007

Acheh: More Funding on the Way


World Bank announces Multi Donor Fund have pledged 100 million US Dollars for economic development in Indonesia’s tsunami-stricken province of Acheh.

Below is an article published by People’s Daily Online:

Donor countries grouped in the Multi Donor Fund are to inject 100 million U.S. dollars funds for economic development in Indonesia's tsunami-hit province of Aceh, a World Bank official said.

"I think the Aceh economy must continue so donor countries will always help it perform better," the bank's country director for Indonesia, Andrew Steer, said at an international conference here Monday.

The post-tsunami reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts which are underway in Aceh were quite successful despite some shortcomings, said Steer.

Although the efforts were complicated and needed huge funds, they were running smoothly, he said.

"I think the international community needs to learn from Aceh in handling natural disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. I salute the Aceh-Nias Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Board (RRB)'s perseverance in rebuilding Aceh," he said.

The efforts had brought about significant changes to the province and would make it one of the country's prosperous regions, he said.

"I am sure the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts made by RRB with the support of the international community will be successful," said Steer who was quoted by Antara news wire.

Tsunami triggered by an 8.7 magnitude undersea earthquake devastated parts of Aceh on Dec. 26, 2004, killing more than 170, 000 people and injuring tens of thousands of others.