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Aceh and Nias Recovery Efforts

Damage caused by the Tsunami

Community is traditionally working together (gotong royong) to rebuild their Mosque

The earthquake and tsunami of 26 December 2004 devastated the northern part of Sumatra, affecting coastal populations, property and land for a 500 kilometer long and 2-6 kilometer wide stretch along the west and north coasts of Aceh. Over 130,000 persons were killed, with at least another 30,000 listed as missing.

The Government immediately requested the United Nations (UN) to coordinate international relief assistance. The UN Flash Appeal, launched on 6 January 2004, requested funding support to provide immediate assistance to one million people. On 28 March 2005, a second large earthquake badly damaged the islands of Nias and Simeulue and further affected the west coast of Sumatra. The creation of the Government of Indonesia’s Executing Agency for Reconstruction of Aceh and Nias (BRR) in April 2005 provided the required impetus to begin the difficult process of focusing resources on the enormous task of reconstruction of Aceh and Nias.

In addition to the disaster, Aceh has been adversely affected by almost thirty years of on and off armed conflict, spearheaded by an insurgent movement fighting for Acehnese independence. Significant fighting resurfaced in 1998 and martial law was imposed in Aceh in May 2003, setting back efforts to maintain sustainable development endeavours and to establish effective and accountable governance. In large measure, the tsunami served as an impetus to revive negotiations between the Government of Indonesia and the Gerakan Merdeka Aceh (GAM), the Acehnese Independence Movement. On 15 August 2005, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Helsinki, the basis for the conclusion of the conflict.

Against this background of massive destruction and human displacement, armed conflict and regional discontent, the challenges to coordinate and implement an effective recovery and reconstruction strategy are daunting. In this context, the role of the UN is to support the recovery and reconstruction programme of the Government of Indonesia, specifically the BRR as well as provincial and local governments.

Related Links / Documents:

• The Acehnese Gampong Three Years On - Assessing Local Capacity and Reconstruction Assistance in Post-tsunami Aceh, Dec 2007
  
• Tsunami Evaluation Coalition, July 2006
  
• Aceh Nias Humanitarian Recovery Update March 2006
  
• Aceh Nias Humanitarian Recovery Update April 2006
  
• Aceh Nias Humanitarian Recovery Update May 2006
  
• Aceh Nias Humanitarian Recovery Update June 2006
  
• Aceh Nias Humanitarian Recovery Update, 16 December 2005 - 15 January 2006
  
• UN Accountability Statement for Aceh and Nias, 8 January 2006
  
• UN Accountability Statement for Aceh and Nias, 31 May 2006
  
• World Bank: East Asia - Tsunami Recovery

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Millennium Development Goals  |   Avian Influenza  |   Aceh and Nias Recovery Efforts  |   UNTWG  |   UN Team Group on Youth  |   HIV/AIDS