On
a breezy, bright morning at the edge of the tsumani’s
swath of destruction, representatives of the Red Cross Red Crescent
Movement and the Indonesian government’s new reconstruction
agency met on 6 May in a ceremony to mark the official beginning
of the recovery of devastated Aceh province.
The head of the Agency for the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation
of Aceh and Nias (BRR, Dr. Kuntoro Mangkususbroto, joined Indonesian
Red Cross (PMI) Chairman Mar’ie Muhammad, International
Federation head of delegation Ole Hauge and the International
Committee of the Red Cross deputy head of delegation, Markus
Dolder, at the PMI chapter office in Banda Aceh to sign this
first official memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the programmes
in tsunami-affected areas of Indonesia.
The MOU - signed in front of witnesses from the Indonesian government,
five ambassadors and Red Cross Red Crescent delegates and volunteers
from all over the world - holds all parties to certain standards
and commitments in the reconstruction process.
In the MOU, the BRR agreed to a plan of action by the Red Cross
Red Crescent movement which will include the building of at
least 22,500 homes, 110 clinics, 110 schools, seven boarding
schools, livelihood assistance for 25,000 families, reconstruction
of public infrastructure, development of villages and environmental
rehabilitation.
The MOU also stated the Movement’s intention to spend
at least the equivalent of US$ 600 million on tsunami recovery
programmes in Indonesia.
This was the first MOU the new government agency has signed
with a reconstruction partner.
Friday’s ceremony - closed by a prayer in Arabic asking
for “a little patience” – gave the people
of Indonesia a written commitment by their government and the
Red Cross Red Crescent Movement to work together in a serious
and cooperative manner to put in action programmes to help them
rebuild their lives.
Ole Hauge said he was proud to see so many dignitaries come
to the event. “It showed recognition of the important
role (the Movement) will play in the reconstruction and rehabilitation
process.”
“The MOU is an indication of the goodwill and trust placed
by the Indonesian people in the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement,”
he added.
Alwi Shihab, the Indonesian government’s coordinating
minister for Social Welfare said the agreement also showed the
world that Indonesia was ready to proceed with reconstruction
programmes with “integrity, transparency and accountability.”
PMI Chairman Mar’ie Muhammad listed some 32 national Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies that will participate in the
recovery phase and thanked them for placing their trust and
support in the PMI’s humanitarian effort.
“We believe this concerted effort demonstrates that the
power of humanity will continue consistently in the future nationwide.”
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The
memorandum of understanding on recovery projects for tsunami-affected
areas of Indonesia is signed by PMI Chairman Mar'ie Muhammad
and Dr Kuntoro Mangkususbroto, head of Indonesia's new
Agency for the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Aceh
and Nias. T-Shirts read "Together with PMI, we will
make a new Aceh and Nias" (p12843; Mike Wolf, Austrian
Red Cross)
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Doves
are released after signing ceremony for MOU, which includes
the reconstruction of homes, schools, clinics and public
infrastructure, as well as environment rehabilitation
(p-IDN0394; Mike Wolf, Austrian Red Cross)
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Women
volunteers from the Indonesian Red Cross disaster response
teams attend the ceremony in banda Aceh (p-IDN0409; Virgil
Grandfield)
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