VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Federal Republic of Germany, through the KfW Development Bank, has allocated 25 million Euros or around Rp413 billion to rebuild important infrastructures and facilities in Central Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara which were hit by earthquakes and tsunami some time ago.

The grant will be managed by the United Nations Development Programs Agency (UNDP) within the period of 2019-2020 in collaboration with the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), and the provincial administrations.

"I was shocked by the level of damage that I witnessed on my last visit to Sulawesi. Therefore I am very proud of this important project which is also an example of our interstate solidarity," Germany Ambassador to Indonesia, ASEAN and Timor Leste Peter Schoof said in a statement received by Antara in Jakarta, Wednesday (Dec 12).

In August 2018, Lombok Island in West Nusa Tenggara Province was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake and killed 564 people while left 400,000 people homeless. The earthquake also damaged more than 70 thousand houses.

The following month, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck Palu City and its surroundings in Central Sulawesi, killed more than 2,000 people, and caused more than 173 thousand people homeless.

The disaster also damaged 68 thousand houses, 176 health facilities including two large hospitals and more than 1,500 schools.

The Director of UNDP Indonesia, Christophe Bahuet, appreciated the financial contribution provided by the German government. The funds will help rebuild infrastructure and support people in disaster-stricken areas.

"When entering the recovery and reconstruction phase, funding from the KfW Development Bank will provide resources. Reconstruction and recovery public infrastructure include health, education and solid waste management facilities," Bahuet noted.

The funding will also help people restart their economic activities and build strength to future shocks, he continued.

The Indonesian government is preparing Master Plan and Reconstruction Action Plan that will guide the implementation of infrastructure recovery projects in Central Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara.

Together with other UN agencies, UNDP has implemented disaster relief programs to support post-disaster recovery efforts in 2018, with some funding coming from UNDP and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

An important part of the program is the UNDP cash-for-work initiative to clean up the debris of buildings that were hit by an earthquake involving hundreds of people who survived the earthquake in Palu. (ANTARA)