Indonesia Helps Sustainable Development in Myanmar Rakhine

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi launched the Humanitarian Assistance Program for Sustainable Communities (HASCO) initiated by the Indonesian Humanitarian Alliance for Myanmar (AKIM) for the people of Rakhine State.

The US $ 2 million humanitarian aid coming from the Indonesian donation will be channeled into two-year, four-focus social programs of education, health, livelihood and post-conflict recovery.

"We hope that this assistance can be sustainable, inclusive and empowering the community in Rakhine State," said Minister of Foreign Affairs at the launch of HASCO program at Gedung Pancasila, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta, Thursday (8/31/2017)

According to the Foreign Minister, the humanitarian aid collected by 11 AKIM community social organizations shows a strong synergy between the government and society as a form of Indonesia's concern for the humanitarian situation in the region, in this case in Myanmar.

"It is more happy that the synergy between the government and NGOs and the community does not use any particular religious basis, other than Islamic humanitarian NGOs, much of the aid we get from other religious people," she said.

The Chief Executive of AKIM Muhamad Ali Yusuf explained that he has worked with the authorities in Rakhine to take care of access granting permission, while for program implementation will be assisted by local NGOs.

"This aid program is inclusive and targeting the whole community in Rakhine regardless of ethnic or religious background," Ali said.

The humanitarian assistance from AKIM will add to the contribution that Indonesia has made in helping to create economic growth, security stability, and a harmonious life among the people living and living in Rakhine State.

To date, Indonesia has assisted in the construction of four US $ 1 million schools for Muslim and Buddhist communities in Rakhine State which was inaugurated in 2014, distributing 10 containers of food and clothing launched by the President in December 2016, and the construction of two schools in Sittwe , Rakhine State, which was inaugurated in January 2017.

 Furthermore, Indonesia will also build a hospital in Rakhine State which is initiated by Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (Mer-C), Representative of Indonesian Buddhist (WALUBI), and PKPU National Humanitarian Institution.

According to the Foreign Minister, the process of licensing and design of the Indonesian hospital has been completed so that the construction process will be implemented in October 2017.

"For the development process we involve fully the company and the local community because that's why we can drive the economy in Rakhine State," he said.