Jakarta, 25th January 2021 — Around 150,000 people in and around quake-hit Indonesia’s Lombok island will benefit from revitalised schools and health care facilities, following the reconstruction of these facilities carried out by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the West Nusa Tenggara provincial government and Germany’s development bank, KfW.

An inauguration ceremony was held today marking the ongoing reconstruction of four vocational schools and 10 health facilities. The reconstruction is among the 14 public infrastructure and eight community infrastructure projects in the region, supported by UNDP’s Programme for Earthquake and Tsunami Reconstruction Assistance (PETRA) project funded by KfW.

In August 2018, Lombok island was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, killing 564 people, and displacing 400,000 others. The quake also damaged more than 70,000 houses and key infrastructure for agricultural economic activities. With the COVID-19 setting in, the quake-hit communities have been hit by a double burden of coping with economic slowdown whilst rebuilding their areas at the same time.

The reconstruction projects involve local residents who have taken a vital role in the planning, design and construction phases.

Cornerstone to the reconstruction initiative are both the ‘build back better’ principle with an inclusive ‘leave no one behind’ approach. Women have been a central part of the project from the early stages, ensuring the facilities are constructed to meet the needs of women. Access for individuals with disabilities will also be provided. The approach is in line with UNDP’s objective to promote resilient livelihoods and contribute to disaster risk reduction as part of efforts to help the region build forward better.

The event, which involved a short ceremony on site carried out following strict COVID-19 pandemic-specific protocols, was broadcast via online platforms to an audience that included representatives from UNDP, national and local government agencies as well as civil society partners.

“In recent months we have seen the beginnings of a new chapter in the history of this area. The construction will provide an opportunity for residents to start afresh, begin anew. The resilience of the community is commendable, and I am sure will contribute to helping Indonesia achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Sophie Kemkhadze, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Indonesia in opening remarks.

The Head of the National Planning Board (Bappeda) West Nusa Tenggara, Dr. Ir. Amri Rachman echoed her statement, noting, “The region has seen several calamities in recent years, and I hope that the reconstruction of the infrastructure helps residents begin a new chapter in their lives. Working with UNDP and other partners has helped inform us about the best practices that can be employed as we work to rebuild our area and prepare to withstand potential recurrences.”

“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, KfW is committed to sustaining its support to the quake-hit communities in Indonesia's Lombok and Palu to get back on their feet. The vital health and education facilities that are being rebuilt are a testament to our strong commitment. We are looking forward to witnessing the enormous impact which these facilities will bring to the local communities," said Angela Tormin, Director of KfW Office, Jakarta.

In a joint survey by UNDP, UNICEF and SMERU Research Institute on quake-hit communities, it was revealed that low-income households were most affected by loss of income caused by the pandemic. The survey – conducted in July to August 2020 - also found that many quake-hit households didn’t have savings to help them cope with the pandemic.

The reconstructed vocational schools are expected to provide an opportunity for the local youth to acquire skills that could help them secure jobs to support their families.

Since 2019 PETRA has completed the reconstruction of eight community infrastructure projects in the area and has handed over the properties to the local government.

The Programme for Earthquake and Tsunami Infrastructure Reconstruction Assistance (PETRA) project is implemented by UNDP, funded by the Federal Republic of Germany through its development bank, KfW. Under this agreement, KfW on behalf of the German Government has allocated EUR 25 million (approximately USD 28.4 million) to rebuild critical infrastructure facilities in Central Sulawesi and NTB. UNDP manages this multi-year initiative, which runs until2022 in close collaboration with BAPPENAS, BNPB, and Provincial Governments, and in alignment with the Reconstruction Master Plan and Plan of Action.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

UNDP Indonesia Resilience and Reconstruction Unit Team Leader, Christian B. Usfinit christian.usfinit@undp.org

UNDP Indonesia PETRA NTB Project Coordinator, Zaenudin Zein zaenudin@undp.org

UNDP Indonesia Communication Specialist, Tomi Soetjipto suryo.tomi@undp.org

UNDP Indonesia Communication and Advocacy Specialist, Ranjit Jose ranjit.jose@undp.org