The government is being urged to design a clear policy for the reconstruction of tsunami-devastated Aceh. A one-day seminar on the rebuilding of Aceh concluded on Monday that the reconstruction plan lacked a coordination component, making it less effective. "There has been no detailed framework on how local participation should be carried out. Local people cannot simply be relocated, unless they want to be," urban development expert Marco Kusumawijaya stated during the seminar.

A report from the non-governmental organization Urban Poor Consortium (UPC) said that besides sporadic development, shortages of construction materials and their high prices have hampered the Aceh reconstruction process.

ome key input came from Sandeep Virmani, from India, who shared his experiences during the reconstruction of Gujarat state after a 7.9-magnitude earthquake devastated eight towns there and killed approximately 25,000 people in January 2001. Within six months, the reconstruction teams managed to build 24,000 houses with strong participation of local people.

The Gujarat rehabilitation policy offered options aimed at fast construction with seismic safety, in which the victims were free to build their own houses based on technical advice from the government. They could rebuild their own houses repaying the cost in installments, or involve NGOs and the government in the building. Supply centers for construction material at stable prices were created and there was coordination with banks. People preferred to build their own houses.

The Jakarta Post , Indonesia, 30 March 2005
Summary of report from Gunung Sitoli, Nias Island

North Sumatra Gov. Rizal Nurdin estimated that 1,000 people died in this week's 8.7-magnitude quake that struck remote Nias Island, but officials feared the number could climb to 2,000. Residents swarmed over collapsed buildings in the island's main town of Gunung Sitoli early today searching frantically for survivors. The town's hospital was barely functioning: It lacked power or water, and fuel for generators and vehicles was running low.

"We know there are many people critically injured," said Dr. Norman Peeler, a medical coordinator from World Health Organization. "It is essential they get treatment, infections spread easily in open wounds."