As of 31 July 2005, the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia has received donations totaling to an amount of Rp. 73,495,255,320.90 or around A$ 9.8 million. The accumulated funds were received by various Indonesian missions around the world from donations made by individuals, groups and/or collective efforts worldwide. The above amount includes bank interests but not banking fees. Up till 26 July 2005, the amount of Rp. 7,851,613,933.50 or around A$ 1 million, have been disbursed and spent to assist the victims of the tsunami disaster. The remaining funds of Rp 65,643,591,387.40 or around A$ 8.8 million are held at the Bank BNI Dukuh Bawah Branch, Jakarta savings account no. 14474181. Recently, the Social Fund has been audited by independent auditors and no irregularities were found.

 

Currently, the Department is proceeding with further assistance in close coordination with the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency for Aceh and the local government in Aceh.  The Department plans to build a Polytechnic Education Centre in Banda Aceh, in which the Pena Foundation of Banda Aceh will provide the site for the centre. The disbursed funds have also been used to finance activities, as follows:

•  Pondok Pesantren As Syafi-iah Orphanage (headed by Hj. Dr. Tuti Alawiyah) that takes care of children orphaned by the tsunami disaster in Aceh;

•  rebuilding 92 houses, mosques, school buildings and water treatment facilities at three villages in Blangpidie, West Aceh;

•  scholarships for two Acehnese university students, who’s previous scholarship programs were discontinued due to the disaster. The two students are an undergraduate student from the Faculty of Economics, Syiah Kuala University and a graduate student from the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Indonesia who previously received scholarships from the Provincial Government of Aceh;

•  purchase of reference books for the Faculty of Law Library, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh;

•  operational costs for the command post of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Banda Aceh and Medan;

•  taxes and banking fees.

The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Canberra has transfered donations, received from the Australian and Indonesian community in Australia through the “Indonesian Tsunami Relief Fund”, to the Department’s Social Fund in the effort to assist the tsunami victims in Aceh and North Sumatra. The Embassy transfered A$ 92,500.00 or the equivalent of Rp. 690,370,000.00.  The “Indonesian Tsunami Relief Fund” is still open and maintained by the Embassy at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia account no. 062900 10405448 for those who still wish to donate to the tsunami and earthquake victims in Aceh and North Sumatra.

On this occasion, the Embassy would like to thank every one in Australia that has participated and extended its assistance and donations to the tsunami and earthquake victims in Aceh and North Sumatra. The Embassy also would like to thank the people of Vanuatu for their support and donations of around US$ 40.000 for the victims of the tsunami. Reports on the usage of the tsunami relief funds will be regulary updated and posted at the embassy’s website www.kbri-canberra.org.au. 

                                                                                      Canberra, 10 Agustus 2005