September 22, 2005 — Former U.S. President Bill Clinton convened key players in the tsunami recovery effort Thursday at World Bank Headquarters to take stock of the recovery effort and address issues of ongoing concern.
Among the participants attending President Clinton's Global Consortium on Tsunami Recovery were World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, heads of UN agencies, the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), members of civil society and ministers from donor countries. Representatives from the affected countries included President Kumaratunga of Sri Lanka and senior ministers from Indonesia, Maldives, India and Thailand.
"Nine months after the devastating tsunami, we must sustain and strengthen our collective efforts at recovery throughout the region. While much of the attention of the world is focused elsewhere, the affected Asian governments are really only beginning a long and complex reconstruction process. We will continue to stand by them. We must tackle the tough issues with the same determination and drive that characterized the immediate aftermath to the crisis," the former President said.
Mr. Wolfowitz spoke of the need to ensure progress so that the public and private donors who stepped up so generously in the wake of the crisis aren't disappointed. He also said that bureaucracy should not hamper efforts to meet the still-desperate needs of people on the ground. "Results are what matters, not process," said Mr. Wolfowitz.
President Clinton applauded progress made to date, including the establishment of national recovery plans with dedicated institutions for implementation; the commitment of governments to develop transparent, on-line financial tracking systems and common indicators to track the recovery effort; and progress on a region-wide early warning system that is expected to be up and running within a year.
At the same time, logistical and capacity constraints continue to impose serious challenges to recovery. In India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, thousands of teachers and civil servants lost their lives in the tsunami and critical transport systems and other infrastructure were destroyed in those countries, as well as in the Maldives and Thailand. In Aceh, which experienced the greatest loss of life, tens of thousands of displaced persons are still living in inadequate facilities and have little or no access to jobs.
Jim Adams, World Bank Vice President for Operational Policy and Country Services, stressed the need for the governments of the affected countries to continue taking the lead in the reconstruction efforts. Saying that donor coordination has greatly increased over the nine month period, Adams also noted that conditions on the ground are improving. "Progress has been made," said Adams, "but a lot more has to be done."
Speaking about Aceh, President Clinton said, "I understand the frustration of the people of Aceh and saw for myself the difficult living conditions in my visit to the region earlier this year. It will take some time to overcome existing bottlenecks, but I am committed to improving the immediate living conditions of all displaced tsunami victims as we pursue longer term reconstruction and development."
With those goals in mind, President Clinton said that the Global Consortium members have endorsed a plan of action for improved transitional shelters. The plan will bring together the Government of Indonesia, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations in a coordinated program to procure, deliver and construct thousands of newer and improved facilities.
For more information on the Bank's work in the tsunami-stricken countries, please visit: www.worldbank.org/tsunami
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