OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS RECOVERY COORDINATOR FOR AND NIAS

HUMANITARIAN AND RECOVERY UPDATE – ACEH & NIAS

FEBRUARY 2006 ISSUE (COVERYING 16 JANUARY – 28 FEBRUARY 2006)

OVERVIEW & KEY DEVELOPMENTS the higher level of beneficiary satisfaction with the work of organization. Peace Process continues to move forward The Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) completed the verification UN-Habitat has started bi-monthly “Aceh-Nias Housing & of the location and strength of organic TNI and police units in Settlements Newsletter” which consolidates SWG discussions, Aceh and confirmed on 22 February that the Government of reports and other papers. To subscribe to the email newsletter, (GoI) was in compliance with the Helsinki contact [email protected] . Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Aceh Jaya The Council of the European Union decided, at its General A general coordination meeting was held on 9 February with Affairs meeting on 27 February, to extend AMM for a further participation of 40 persons from local government, BRR, period of three months until 15 June. The conclusions of the BAPPEDA, UN and NGOs. BAPPEDA briefed on the regional meeting also underlined the Council’s support to the revenue and expenditure budget (APRD): the regional budget is forthcoming local elections, including the possible deployment reportedly IDR134 billion, of which IDR84 billion will be of an EU election observation mission. allocated to government offices and public services. The Bupati

th stated that while MoU for some 12,000 have been signed for The 30 meeting of the Commission on Security Arrangements the district, only around 1,000 houses have been built thus far. (COSA) for the GoI, GAM and AMM was held on 25 February. He also raised the issue of land for IDP relocation (e.g., 42 The acting Governor of NAD also attended. Of note, AMM hectares needed for Jaya sub-district, 40 hectares for expressed its satisfaction with the intension of the GoI to Sampoiniet). establish a Human Rights Court before 15 June; and with the progress that has been made in clarifying 20 amnesty cases, of Canadian Red Cross (CRC) plans to open a sub-field office in which 13 will be released. Lhok Kruet, Sampoinet. German Agro Action (GAA) has established an office in Padang Datar. GAA plans to build 5 The discussion on the draft Law on the Governing of Aceh schools. Currently, 40 NGOs, 8 UN agencies and 8 donor (LoGA) continues at the House of Representatives. The House agencies are active in Aceh Jaya, according to the UNORC has been going through hearings with the acting Governor, Calang data. GAM representatives, the Aceh legislative council representatives, constitutional law experts, etc. to discuss the revisions and legal implications of the bill. The Helsinki MoU Aceh Barat/ Nagan Raya stipulates that the deliberation of the LoGA should be On 8 February, a full day meeting was organized for BAPPEDA, UNORC and NGOs to inform BAPPEDA on NGO completed by 31 March. activities while it was preparing its 2006 budget. UNORC will provide BAPPEDA with detailed information on NGO activities that it collected through sub-district coordination meetings. Deputy Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery, Eric Schwartz, visited Aceh on 22-23 February. He held meetings with UN At the area Shelter Working Group meeting, BRR presented its Recovery Coordinator, Pak Kuntoro (BRR), civil society housing policy. To fill gaps in shelter reconstruction, BRR plans representatives (on tsunami recovery and peace process), and to build 3,000 houses in Aceh Barat and rehabilitate 300, and in BRR officers (private sector, SMEs, micro enterprise; anti Nagan Raya, 1,000 and 500 respectively. The criteria for corruption). He also undertook site visits where he was briefed, beneficiary selection are yet to be clarified. inter alia , on the progress on the Temporary Shelter Plan of Action, logistics common serv