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in Padang with the Australia Indonesia Partnership
and USAID - September 2010
Padang with AusAID, USAID and the Australia Indonesia Facility for Disaster Reduction (AIFDR)
To remember the first anniversary of last year's devastating
West Sumatra earthquake, Australia's Chargé d'Affaires
to Indonesia, Paul Robilliard, visited Padang on September
27th. Kang Guru was there at SDN19 Padang to watch the
festivities and to see the happy students and staff of
that school being built with support from AusAID and USAID.
Their school was destroyed in the 2009 earthquake.
In Padang, Mr Robilliard and US Ambassador to Indonesia,
Scot Marciel, visited one of 39 damaged schools, SDN
19 Padang, which the two countries are helping to rebuild.
Together they signed a plaque at the school in Kampung
Olo to mark their countries' commitment to help many
Indonesian children return to formal education.
"Working together, our three countries can help about 6,500 children return to safer schools which will meet Indonesia's earthquake-resistant standards," Mr Robilliard said.
The DHOM from the Australian Embassy in Jakarta,
Mr Robilliard (far right) and US Ambassador to
Indonesia, Scot Marciel (signing) together with
the Governor of West Sumatra (center), at the
offcial signing ceremony at SDN19 Padang.
Mr Robilliard also visited Lubuk Kilangan village where he talked to locals who have been trained to build safer homes through a joint Indonesia-Australia public awareness campaign. The 'Earthquake Safe Housing' campaign taught communities across West Sumatra that building safer houses can save lives during an earthquake. Mr Robilliard also launched www.rumahamangempa.net the online version of the campaign. The new campaign will use popular social networking media such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to post updated resources and information (see below).
Overall, Australia has provided $15 million in assistance following last year's 30 September earthquake, including support for emergency, recovery and reconstruction efforts.
Australia Indonesia Facility for Disaster Reducation
(AIFDR)
Later in the day KGI attended the opening of the online
services from www.rumahamangempa.net from
the Australia Indonesia Facility for Disaster Reduction
(AIFDR) - an AusAID project in Indonesia.
This new campaign will use popular social networking media such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to post updated resources and information.
"By putting these materials online,
many more Indonesians in vulnerable regions across
the country and beyond West Sumatra will be able
to access this important information," Mr
Robilliard said. "Australia is committed
to helping Indonesia reduce the human and economic
toll of natural disasters which are a serious
risk here", he said.
Australia will also train Indonesian builders to construct earthquake-resilient buildings through a regional training and logistics centre. This will include a competition challenging builders, engineers and architects to design houses using techniques that minimise damage in earthquakes. Australia is also rebuilding eight health facilities across Padang Pariaman district to help communities regain access to improved health services.
