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ADB and Muslim Aid Handing Over Houses in Aceh

Banda Aceh, 21 February 2008 - ADB and Muslim Aid, a United Kingdom-based civil society organization, started the process of handing over 222 new houses to community members in Meunasah Bueng village, in Pidie district, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.

ADB is providing the financing for this housing project with Muslim Aid as the implementing partner. ADB’s collaboration with Muslim Aid totals $4.9 million for the construction of 686 houses in Pidie, Bireuen, Aceh Utara and Lhokseumawe.

“We would like to congratulate Muslim Aid for the progress achieved so far,” says Pieter Smidt, Head of ADB’s Extended Mission in Sumatera (EMS) office. “Equally important, we would like to thank the people of this village for their patience and collaboration. Without both we wouldn’t be where we are today,” continues Mr. Smidt.

“I am pleased that Muslim Aid has completed the first phase of the 686 houses for the victims of the Tsunami. This would not have been possible without the support of ADB and the hard work of our team, led by Fadlullah Wilmot. It is Muslim Aid’s dream that every family should have a decent home. Today’s hand over marks that Muslim Aid has completed 5,000 shelters throughout Indonesia,” said Farooq Salman Murad, Chairman of Muslim Aid Board of Trustess.

ADB is providing $70 million to rehabilitate and reconstruct houses and community infrastructure in Aceh and Nias following the 2004 Tsunami and March 2005 earthquake. The assistance is part of a $291 million ADB grant to the Government of Indonesia that is helping to rebuild the areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami disasters.

Through the “on-budget” program implemented by BRR, the Aceh and Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency of the Government of Indonesia, construction of around half of the 2,600 new houses is nearing completion. Meanwhile, under the “off-budget” program implemented by UN-HABITAT and four NGOs, including Muslim Aid, German Agro Action, Help eV, and Cordaid, about 1,700 are currently being constructed while construction for the other 1,200 is expected to start soon.

“Our team from Muslim Aid has worked hard to deliver quality housing which is earthquake resistance and environmentally friendly to the victims of the Tsunami. Muslim aid is committed to the long-term development of Aceh,” said Fadlullah Wilmot, Country Director for Muslim Aid Indonesia.

ADB's multi-sector tsunami for Indonesia assistance package covers agriculture, fisheries, irrigation, micro and small enterprise development, housing, water and sanitation, health, education, transport, power, spatial planning and environmental management, and fiduciary oversight.

The $291 million ADB grant is financing the Earthquake and Tsunami Emergency Support Project (ETESP) to support disaster management, reconstruction and rehabilitation in affected areas of Aceh and North Sumatra. In addition, ADB has contributed a $10 million grant to the Multi-Donor Fund for Aceh and Nias.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region. In 2006, it approved loans and grants for projects totaling $8.5 billion, and technical assistance amounting to almost $242 million.

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