12. Reconstruction and Rehabilitation After Large-Scale Natural Disasters: Lessons from the Indian Ocean Tsunami in Aceh and Nias, Indonesia

The Indian Ocean Tsunami hit Aceh and Nias, Indonesia, on the morning of December 26, 2004. The giant wave destroyed all life and infrastructure within 10 km of the coastline in north and western Aceh, which then was a zone of armed conflict and all islands offshore. The death toll approached 167,000 people, with 128,000 missing and 811,000 internally displaced. This chapter analyses the impact of this huge natural disaster in a conflict zone. It documents the international response, the unexpectedly significant roles of NGOs on the Aceh and Nias economies and development in general, and the process of reconstructing and rehabilitating these areas. The reconstruction has been deemed successful. Among the important reasons for this success is that the Indonesian government wisely allowed local communities, leaders, and NGOs to participate in developing the master plan to reconstruct Aceh and Nias. Also, establishing the Badan Rehabilitasi dan Rekonstruksi Aceh-Nias to coordinate the reconstruction and rehabilitation was vital, as were funding commitments and willingness to deliver on them by government and other donors.