THE POSITIVES OF NIAS' NATURAL DISASTERS
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| A father with his kids walking over the ruins after the quake |
Despite massive damage caused and a substantial loss of life, the people of Nias can still look on the bright side.
“Many people were killed and we lost a great deal of property, but the natural disasters have given our people hope as we received a massive response from people around the country and internationally,” South Nias Regent Idealisman Dachi told a group of journalists during a recent visit to the regency, facilitated by the Multi Donor Fund (MDF) for Aceh and Nias.
Following the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami that hit Aceh on Dec. 26, 2004, and the Nias earthquake in March 2005, the government established the Agency for the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Aceh and Nias (BRR NAD-Nias) on April 16, 2005, charging it with coordinating and implementing recovery programs.
“The government-initiated reconstruction programs did stabilize the situation in affected areas and helped people recover from the impacts of the disasters, we remain vulnerable; especially people in the southern part of Nias who live in remote and hilly areas,” said Idealisman.
Also established shortly after the 2004 tsunami and 2005 earthquake, the MDF is due to wind up its work later this year. The organization collected contributions worth US$678 million from 15 donors to help with reconstruction projects.
Donors included the European Union (EU), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank and the governments of Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
MDF external relations and communications officer Eva Muchtar said that by delivering 23 programs in Aceh and Nias, the MDF had responded not only to the housing and infrastructure needs of disaster-affected areas but also to longer-term needs deemed vital to achieving sustainable economic development.
It also played a role in restoring employment and income-generating opportunities for disaster-affected communities.
“The development of infrastructure such as roads and bridges has opened access in several previously isolated areas of Nias Island,” said Eva, adding that the MDF also promoted the conservation of the stone-age megalithicum heritage site in Nias.
One of the fruits of the reconstruction project is a suspension bridge over the Mejaya River in Mazino subdistrict, South Nias regency. People living in surrounding villages, such as Hilifondege-Hilizoroilawa and Hilizoroilawa on the river’s left bank and Lawinda and Lolomboli on the right, now have better transportation access, allowing them to travel even well into the rainy season.
Before the construction, locals were cut off from other areas when water levels in the Mejaya River rose. Flooding often prevented children from attending school and farmers from selling their produce, which includes cacao, rubber and coconuts.
“During the flooding, we could do nothing but wait until the waters receded. But with the bridge, we can stay active,” said Marinus Ndruru Wabu, the head of Hilifondege-Hilizoroilawa village.
The Mejaya bridge is one of a number of infrastructure projects developed under the $16 million Nias Island Rural Access and Capacity Building Project (RACBP), which began in October 2009 and is expected to end in December this year.
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| Face of Nias after RACBP |
“In developing the suspension bridges, we adopted a design from Nepal, which has long been known as the pioneer of such structures,” said Vanda Day, the RACBP’s team leader.
Reference: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/10/09/the-positives-nias-natural-disasters.html
Elly Burhaini Faizal, The Jakarta Post, Nias | National | Tue, October 09 2012, 9:24 AM
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