Tsunami Aid Disappears

Sumatra Earthquake 2004

So what has happened to the US$4 billion donated by the West to help the tsunami and earthquake victims of late 2004? Nobody knows, but the city of Banda Aceh and smaller towns on the northwestern coast of Sumatra have reportedly received very little aid, and are still living in extreme poverty. No help from the Indonesian government, and it's now been over three months since the cataclysmic events of last December.

Where has the money gone?

Remember: Indonesia has one of the most corrupt governments in the world, and is only exceeded in it's pure corruption and venality by a handful of African nations. That 4 billion given to the Indonesian government has probably gone down a hellhole by now, and if the government and military hasn't stolen all the money by now....just give them a few more months.

Give money to Indonesia. Feed the rot.

Three months after the devastation, residents in the tsunami-ravaged Aceh region of Indonesia have begun asking where the relief money is.

There is little sign in the region of the billions of dollars in donations from governments, aid organizations, civic groups and individuals, and displaced residents are becoming impatient, the International Herald Tribune said Wednesday.

The only thing we've gotten is small packets of food and supplies, said Samsur Bahri, 54. Where the money is, we don't know. It's just meetings, meetings, meetings.

Indonesia's state auditing agency said it was having difficulty accounting for portions of more than $4 billion it received in donations, as it was being put in the hands of various government agencies.

Indonesia's state auditing agency said it was having difficulty accounting for portions of more than $4 billion it received in donations, as it was being put in the hands of various government agencies.