Manila, May 31, 2006 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Asian Development Bank (ASX: ATB) today offered the Government of Indonesia US$10 million in immediate grant assistance, and $50 million in soft loans for a total of $60 million to help meet the rehabilitation needs of the earthquake-affected areas of Yogyakarta and Central Java.
"We will help Indonesia with whatever it takes and provide more resources to help the people rebuild their lives and livelihoods," ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda said after meeting with Indonesian President, Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Yogyakarta. He added "We will work closely with the Government and other development partners in assessing the damage and loss caused by the earthquake and the rebuilding needs, and then help in implementing the consequent rehabilitation and reconstruction program."
President Kuroda is visiting today the areas affected by the devastating 27 May earthquake in central Java. He will meet with local government officials and some of those hardest hit by the natural disaster.
"Coming so soon after the 2004 earthquake and tsunami, our hearts go out to the people of Indonesia and we find strength in the courage they have shown under desperate circumstances," Mr. Kuroda said.
After meeting with President Yudhoyono, Mr. Kuroda praised the head of state for his response to the emergency. "His quick response in setting up office near the disaster site and mobilizing the resources available to help people in need has been impressive. ADB and the international community stand behind him in this daunting task."
Rajat Nag, Director General of ADB's Southeast Asia Department, arrived in Jakarta Sunday to monitor the situation and determine how ADB can best assist Indonesia. He has met with Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati.
ADB is also looking at its ongoing projects in Indonesia to determine how resources can be deployed efficiently and quickly on the ground.
ADB draws on long experience in dealing with natural disasters, including the recent Asian tsunami, which also hit Indonesia, and the South Asia earthquake.
Contact
Floyd Whaley
Email: fwhaley@adb.org
Tel:+632 632 6848; +63 9717 888 6848
Ayun Sundari
Email: asundari@adb.org
Tel:+ 62 21 251 2721
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