MFA Press Release - Remarks by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, in Parliament in Response to Questions on Assistance to Aceh, 18 February 2005

[Mdm Halimah Yacob: Asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, (a) if he will give an update, now that Aceh affected by the tsunami is entering into the reconstruction phase, on how the aid, which the Government had pledged to Aceh, will be channelled to it; and (b) whether it will be used for building of infrastructure or other specific projects.]

REPLY:

Helping our neighbour

1 Indonesia was the country hardest hit by the earthquake and tsunamis. The worst affected areas were in the west coast of Aceh province. As a close friend and neighbour, Singapore has been doing its part to help the people of Aceh. Our efforts are focused on Banda Aceh and Meulaboh. In the case of Meulaboh, the SAF was the first to arrive at the scene of the disaster. Over the ensuing few weeks, the SAF worked with the TNI, local authorities and other relief agencies in distributing relief supplies and providing medical attention to the displaced. At the peak of our relief efforts, we deployed more than 1,000 personnel, supported by the SAF's helicopters, landing ship tanks, medical, engineer and civil defence teams. Our in-theatre assets also provided heavy lift capabilities to the UN and other relief agencies in ferrying aid and medical supplies to the disaster areas.

2 This relief effort is by far the biggest we have ever mounted. Our total governmental contributions to the tsunami-stricken areas will amount to nearly S$70 million. The bulk of this S$70 million comprises our initial pledge of S$5 million for immediate relief, US$10 million (or S$16.5 million) pledge for reconstruction, and S$44 million being costs of the deployment of assets and personnel in affected countries.

3 In addition, the response from the non-government sector has been overwhelming. Donations to the Singapore Red Cross Society (SRCS) has reached S$75 million as of 11 February 05. The SRCS now leads a committee comprising representatives from various NGOs to ensure that these funds are properly disbursed for the reconstruction phase. Private companies and associations, such as Hyflux and Network Indonesia, have also donated equipment such as water generator sets, power generators and handphones for our volunteers. Other religious and people sector organisations have been actively raising funds for the tsunami victims. Many Singaporeans with specialised skills such as doctors, nurses and pharmacists also stepped forward to volunteer their services. For example, Mercy Relief is providing medical relief in Banda Aceh and Meulaboh. Medical volunteers from Alexandra Hospital have operated at the Zainal Abidin Hospital in Banda Aceh, while those from the Raffles Medical Group have helped provide medical relief in Meulaboh. Many other volunteer groups including Ren Ci, YMCA, Code-4, Touch Community Services and Singapore Soka Association have also sent teams to Aceh and other affected countries to provide medical relief and assist in the distribution of relief supplies.

4 Singaporeans have shown that they have a big heart when it comes to helping their neighbours in distress. But the task is far from over as we move from emergency relief to rehabilitation and reconstruction.

How aid will be channelled to Aceh and what will it be spent on?

5 We will continue to help countries badly-hit by the tsunami, such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, following our pledge of US$10 million. In the case of Indonesia, Singapore volunteer groups such as Mercy Relief, City Harvest Community Services Association and SRCS are on the ground helping in the transition from relief to rehabilitation. Our NGOs have also set up a liaison office in Medan to facilitate other volunteer groups who are currently in Aceh, or planning to go to Aceh. This liaison office will work closely with the Tsunami Reconstruction Facilitation Committee led by SRCS to support our NGOs that are participating in the reconstruction efforts. The SAF continues to maintain liaison teams in Meulaboh and Banda Aceh to facilitate the work of our volunteers. Given the extent of the disaster, the Indonesian government is in the process of assessing its reconstruction needs. It has recently drawn up a three-phase relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction plan for Aceh. Singapore will work closely with the Indonesian Government and SRCS to identify the projects in the reconstruction phase, such as the building of a barge pier, polyclinics, a hospital and school. We will also help in the training of administrators and healthcare workers to run some of these facilities.

6 The recovery and reconstruction phase will take several years. Many countries are helping. We will do what we can to be helpful within the limits of our capabilities. In the end, it is the courage and resilience of those afflicted themselves which will enable them to rebuild their lives and communities and we are seeing abundant signs of that.

7 I think the Honourable Member, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Iswaran, GPC Chairman Mr Ravindran and a few other Members of this House were also in Bandar Aceh and Meulaboh this month and have seen for themselves the resilience and the spirit in the people of Aceh and the people of Indonesia. We are very happy for them that they will be able to do their best to rebuild themselves and we will be there to work with the Indonesian Government in its reconstruction efforts. Thank you.

Supplementary Questions:

[MP Mdm Halimah Yacob: Thank you Sir. With regards to the $16.5 million, I hear the Minister of State's explanation that details will be worked out according to needs of the Indonesian government. With regards to the $75 million raised from Singaporeans, will the Government also provide some guidance, supervision in terms of how these funds would be channelled into reconstruction aid in specific projects in Indonesia? Thank you.]

Reply: I think on the question of the disbursement, the Singapore Red Cross Society has set up a Committee (Tsunami Reconstruction Facilitation Committee), to support their work. The Committee has met 4 times since January and it has in fact received 14 proposals from 7 VWOs, NGOs and they have even given in-principle agreement to provide funding support to several projects. The Red Cross has issued a press release yesterday and we should see the details in the media soon. Some of the projects which actually have been approved include Habitat for Humanity for low-cost housing, the Singapore International Foundation's proposal for Sri Lanka to help restore livelihood of fishermen, and support the rehabilitation of affected communities through the construction of communal facilities and provision of nutritional programmes. These are some examples to show that in fact work is in progress and there is movement. The Indonesian Government only yesterday, if I am not mistaken, has given in-principle approval for the barge pier where they will form a Joint Committee and will work out the technical details. The Red Cross is appealing for VWOs and NGOs to come forward to put their project proposals that require funding and other forms of support in the reconstruction phase. Much has been done, but much more in fact will be done in the few years ahead.

[MP Ms Irene Ng: I am sure Singaporeans do not begrudge this generous donation to Indonesia, but can I ask the Ministry how does the Ministry come up with the figure of $16.5 million. This is particularly useful since we have other calamities in the region and we need to know on what basis we decided the amount.]

Reply: We have our own criteria of giving financial assistance. In fact, from past experiences, we have given something like US$50,000 or more to earthquake calamities, floods in China, in Turkey. After giving the initial S$5 million for relief work, it dawned on all of us that the scale of the disaster caused by the tsunami is really unimaginable. If you have been to Meulaboh and Bandar Aceh, it is really unimaginable to think that the waves could really cause that kind of devastation. We thought that in fact it required more in terms of financial assistance. More than financial assistance, Singapore took the imitative to call for the international conference in Jakarta. So if you look at the total approach taken by Singapore, it is beyond the S$5 million, beyond the US$10 million, in fact this may even reach something like S$150 million altogether put in by Singapore. So I think we have to judge each calamity on its own merit and I think the tsunami case deserves that kind of support.

[NMP Ms Eunice Olsen: I would just like to ask the Minister whether a statement of account will also be produced from time to time so that the public is aware also how the money is being channelled with regards to the Singapore Red Cross and for the Singapore Red Cross. Thank you.]

Reply: We will convey this sentiment to the Singapore Red Cross, but you know our Singapore style. We are very transparent, so rest assured that we will be able to give as much information as possible.

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