Finally, aid money is in place to rebuild Aceh
Jakarta (AsiaNews/Agencies) - After months of inactivity, US.2 billion in foreign aid is ready to be spent on reconstruction projects in tsunami-ravaged Aceh, the chief of Indonesia's rehabilitation agency for the province said yesterday.
"I just met the president to review what the agency has done. One thing that was reported is that US.2 billion in aid is ready to be spent," Kuntoro Mangkusubroto said after meeting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Mr Kuntoro said he was shocked at how little had been done for survivors and that virtually no money had been disbursed for reconstruction.
The Indonesian government has yet to disburse its own aid for rebuilding because it is awaiting approval from parliament, Dr Susilo's spokesman, Andi Mallarangeng, said.
The government has set aside .96 billion from this year's budget for rebuilding. Mr Kuntoro has said he did not expect those funds to be available until September.
One problem in getting foreign reconstruction funds moving was the time it took to get the Aceh Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency set up, with donors unsure about approval procedures for projects, Mr Kuntoro has said.
The US.2 billion in foreign aid includes US0 million from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and a range of national groups.
December's earthquake - the trigger for the devastating tsunami - shook the ground everywhere on the Earth's surface, scientists report in today's edition of Science.
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14/09/2004
