Reconstruction Through External Support: Key Observation in Aceh

Abstract

As UNISDR defines Disaster as “a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources”, intervention by international society is expected after a large disaster. Though the governments of disaster affected countries are primarily responsible for the event and have obligations to protect their citizens and liaise with international society as duty bearer, international donors are also expected play essential role on the response. In the case of Indian Ocean Tsunami, the affected countries received the largest ever interventions for emergency response and reconstruction from international society. Because of the hugeness and variety of support programs in comparison with capacity of recipient governments and communities, inefficiency and inadequateness were observed. There were some other reasons for the problems beside the lack of capacity such as lack of credible coordination system and gaps between donors and recipients. Meanwhile, many trials were made to overcome such constraints. This chapter presents a summary of lessons learned from experience of reconstruction with external supports for Indian Ocean Tsunami, especially on reconstruction stage.