The rebuilding of Aceh, and my modest proposal

Events are moving along for the rebuilding of Aceh:

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has announced he is setting up a special coordinating body to oversee and supervise the rebuilding of Aceh. (CNA, Jan 18)

Needless to say, it's going to cost some...

[Vice-President Jusuf Kalla:] "The Indonesian government will set aside US$1 billion for Aceh's development. We hope to get US$2 billion to US$3 billion from foreign donors. We will allow local contractors to handle the smaller projects in Aceh. We need to create jobs for the people. But for big projects, like power and electricity and seaports, we will give it to big foreign investors. (ST, Jan 19)

...and involve major construction plus planning for the possibility that similar disasters may strike again:

He [Jusuf Kalla] told The Straits Times in an interview that Indonesian officials were now drawing up a blueprint for Aceh, where the capital Banda Aceh and other coastal towns would be moved inland by 2km to 3km.

'The big challenge is to build a new capital. This involves replanning. In fact, all the big cities need replanning - Meulaboh, Calang. All these are coastal towns. If we rebuild, we have to take into account the possibility that the tsunami could strike again in 20 years or 50 years.'

And a role for Singapore is already mentioned:

But Mr Jusuf noted that Jakarta would also need to tap Singapore's expertise in town planning. 'Singapore is an island state. We need to draw on their experience in building coastal towns.' (ST Jan, 19)

I say we seize the opportunity and cement this friendship. In fact, something quite specific has already been proposed:

SINGAPORE has been invited 'to leave a meaningful legacy' in tsunami-hit Aceh by building a hospital to replace one of those badly damaged during the disaster. Alternatively, it could help build some schools, said the Governor of North Sumatra, Mr Rizal Nurdin, who added that it was a 'personal' invitation. 'You could have a picture of a lion outside the building to remind Acehnese of the lasting contributions made by Singaporeans during the dark spot in Aceh history,' he said. It will not only be useful but also meaningful.' ... 'It will carry Singapore's name but the management will be in the hands of the Indonesian government or others who might be interested,' he added.(ST Jan 19)

My modest proposal (not that I am under the illusion that the powers that be are reading this blog): go for the hospital idea, and have arrangements in place so that medical and other personnel from Singapore can do volunteer work there all year round. For example, make it one of the places where trainee teachers can do the required community work (see this earlier report).

And while we are on the subject of volunteers, looks like they are already taking over from the SAF in Meulaboh:

Increasingly, the work on the ground [in Meulaboh] is being undertaken by volunteers from the Singapore Red Cross and other aid groups from Singapore and elsewhere.

Yesterday, Red Cross volunteers, who brought along two trucks--which they will leave behind--made the 10km drive out of Meulaboh to Preumbeu, one of several camps set up for people whose homes were destroyed in the Dec 26 tragedy. About 2,000 people are now living in 50 tents covering an area the size of a soccer field.

As the Red Cross trucks pulled up, the residents queued for food packages containing bottled water and items such as biscuits. Mr Marie Muhamad, chairman of the Palang Merah Indonesia (Indonesian Red Cross), officiated at a ceremony to receive the aid from Associate Professor Lim Meng Kin, council member of the Singapore Red Cross.

Speaking in Bahasa Indonesia, Mr Marie Muhamad said: 'We asked for the trucks and have also received 50,000 pre-packed packets of food from the Singapore Red Cross. 'The most important thing now is to make sure that the food they sent reaches the villagers.'

Prof Lim pledged that more supplies are on the way. He said: 'This is from the people of Singapore, for the people of Indonesia. Our hearts go out to all of you. Words cannot express adequately how we all feel, so this is but a small token.' (ST, Jan 19)

Amen.