Source: European Commission (EC)

Date: 23 Feb, 2006

Ref: PI04-06

Jakarta, 23 February 2006 - The European Commission (EC) and the Office of the Governor of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam endorsed Wednesday (22/2) the 230 villages to receive livelihood assistance as part of the EC supported “Livelihood support for conflict affected communities in Aceh” project -- also known as “Makmu Gampong Kareuna Dame”. The project will be delivered through DINSOS-PIKR assisted by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). With an EC grant funding of 1.4 million euro, the “Makmu Gampong Kareuna Dame” project will directly benefit 184,000 people by providing quick-impact livelihood assistance to conflict affected communities in areas such as education, health, water, sanitation and income generation.

This action is part of an overall package of EC support to underpin the peace process and help the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was signed between the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) on 15 August 2005 in Helsinki. To this end, a total of 25 million euro has been committed by the EC to help sustain economic recovery, support the rule of law and democracy in Aceh. This action complements the efforts by the central and local governments to provide tangible peace benefits to conflict-affected communities assisting them in their effort to reintegrate former members of the ‘conflict parties’.

The EC will continue to work with the Aceh Local Government at the provincial and district level to ensure that this assistance responds to local needs and priorities.

* Official exchange rate (February 2006): 1 euro = Rp 11342.