JAKARTA, Indonesia - Australia became the largest donor to the tsunami relief effort Wednesday, committing $764 million in loans and grants to help Indonesia recover from the disaster.
Posted on 01/05/2005 7:48:43 AM PST by crushelits
JAKARTA, Indonesia - Australia became the largest donor to the tsunami relief effort Wednesday, committing $764 million in loans and grants to help Indonesia recover from the disaster.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced the increased aid package while visiting the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. Australia previously announced a $47 million aid package, but it was unclear whether the $47 million was included in the new package or whether it was separate.
"This is a historic step in Indonesian-Australian relations in the wake of this terrible natural disaster," Howard said.
Earlier Wednesday, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder increased his country's aid package from $27 million to $674 million. The money will be distributed over three to five years, he said.
The United Nations (news - web sites) has said countries have pledged more than $2 billion in aid after Indian Ocean region was devastated by a Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami that killed nearly 150,000 people.
Australia's aid package will be split into grants for short-term relief and loans for long-term reconstruction.
Howard said he and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would lead a commission to monitor how the money is spent.
"It will in every respect be a partnership between Australia and Indonesia," Howard said.
Loans, huh?
Just chits in case anybody ever finds any oil there in the future.
Yeah, I didn't miss that either.
I hereby pledge $60 billion dollars. Who wants to match me?
I pledge $70 million of AppyPappy's money!
All aid has both loans and grants from governments..Some like France(I read)do loans exclusively.
http://diplomadic.blogspot.com/
Aussies and Yanks continue to carry the overwhelming bulk of the burden, but some other fine folks also have jumped in: e.g., the New Zealanders have provided C-130 lift and an excellent and much-needed potable water distribution system; the Singaporeans have provided great helo support; the Indians have a hospital ship taking position off Sumatra. Spain and Netherlands have sent aircraft with supplies.
snip
The only fault The Diplomad can find with the Dutch report is that it understates the role of the Australians in the relief effort -- they deserve considerably more credit than this report gives them. It's hard to praise the Aussies too much for what they have done in the wake of the tsunami. They are absolutely splendid -- too bad they've got that thing about that weird game, uh, cricket, is it?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1314013/posts
Operation Tsunami Assist/ Operation Sumatra Assist - picture galleries
Australian Government, Department of Defence ^ | December 2004/January 2005
Posted on 01/04/2005 6:20:36 PM CST by naturalman1975
at SOME dollar figure, the "humanitarian" aid lapses into defacto indemnification unless is is reasonably structured.
Overall, this "pledge" situation is becoming oneupsmanship.
Meanwhile, the USA continues to actually insert humanitarian aid into remote areas.
All aid has both loans and grants from governments..Some like France(I read)do loans exclusively.
http://diplomadic.blogspot.com/
Aussies and Yanks continue to carry the overwhelming bulk of the burden, but some other fine folks also have jumped in: e.g., the New Zealanders have provided C-130 lift and an excellent and much-needed potable water distribution system; the Singaporeans have provided great helo support; the Indians have a hospital ship taking position off Sumatra. Spain and Netherlands have sent aircraft with supplies.
snip
The only fault The Diplomad can find with the Dutch report is that it understates the role of the Australians in the relief effort -- they deserve considerably more credit than this report gives them. It's hard to praise the Aussies too much for what they have done in the wake of the tsunami. They are absolutely splendid -- too bad they've got that thing about that weird game, uh, cricket, is it?
I was just pointing out that "loans" in this situation sounds like a political bookkeeping angle.
Unless a massive reserve of oil is found beneath them, Indonesia will not be paying back these "loans" anytime soon, or ever.
Thank you, Australia, speaking on behalf of the victims of the horrible Tsunami.
PS
I wasn't bashing Australia......they (and Japan, India) stepped up to the plate with US, right from the git!
Indonesia has asked Australia to take the lead in reconstruction..Australia(who has the greatest physical presence and interest on the security of that region) is our "guy" on the spot for Indonesia, terrorism,etc...They had the losses from the Bali bombing and Howard has been invaluable.
How about those stingy Arabians? $10 million is all that oil-rich country could spare.
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