Habitat for Humanity’s tsunami rebuilding initiative in Indonesia receives official recognition

BANGKOK, July 20th, 2007: Habitat for Humanity’s on-going program of rebuilding homes with families affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami swept across the west coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra island has received an award from the Indonesian government.
Two and a half years after the deadly December disaster, Habitat’s local team recently received an award for being a resilient non-government organization, able to deliver on its commitment to the people of the area.
The award was presented at Calang, Aceh Jaya, by the governor of Aceh province, Irwandi Yusuf, and Kuntoro Mangkusubruto, director of Badan Rekonstruksi dan Rehabilitasi (Agency for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation, known as BRR), the central agency overseeing the rehabilitation and reconstruction. The award was received on behalf of Habitat by Tots Escalada, director of Habitat’s tsunami rebuilding project in Indonesia.
The text on the plaque, written in a local Aceh dialect, reads “Thank you very much ? from the people of Aceh Jaya, province of Aceh.” Habitat was one of two NGOs recognized from over 50 NGOs working in the region. The second was Samaritan Purse.
Receiving the award reflects a strategic move in Habitat’s future. In recent years, Habitat has been building up its capability to respond to both natural and man-made disasters. “As an organization with experience providing simple, decent and affordable homes, we possess the right skill set and desire to help rehabilitate damaged homes or build permanent housing after a disaster; and offer technical and organizational expertise in the rebuilding process,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International.
Beyond tsunami-related projects, Habitat has responded to hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, landslides, floods and conflicts with initiatives in many countries around the world, including the U.S. Gulf Coast (Hurricanes Katrina and Rita), Lebanon, Tajikistan, Pakistan, the Philippines and Solomon Islands.
“Our commitment is a long-term one, as rebuilding permanent homes and communities after a disaster, takes time,” remarked Mr Steve Weir, vice-president for Habitat’s Asia-Pacific operations. “It is more than the physical structure of doors, walls and roofing, but having programs in place that go far in reducing the devastating effects of poverty, especially poverty brought about by the utter devastation of a sudden disaster like the tsunami.”
Habitat’s community-based disaster response model calls for a high level of community participation from village leaders and affected families in making decisions about how to rebuild, and the maximum possible use of local resources.
Habitat has assisted about 800 families in the west coast of Aceh. Commenting on the award, Habitat’s Escalada describes the West Coast as “the most challenging tsunami-hit area in Aceh” with few NGOs active there as most prefer safer locations to do reconstruction work. Habitat staff and projects in the area have faced threats and criminal activity. “In other words, it is a test of our commitment to the mission we swear. If not for the love of Christ to our brothers in Aceh, we could never be here.”
Altogether, Habitat’s tsunami rebuilding program in Indonesia has assisted more than 4,000 families build, rehabilitate and repair homes with a further 2,000 more expected to benefit by the end of 2008. By then, Habitat is expecting to have assisted some 21,000 families in tsunami-affected areas of Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand find permanent housing. Most recently, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia marked its 1,500th house built in response to the tsunami in Meulaboh, on the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.