Australia Parliamentarians Visit Aid Programs In Padang

Jakarta, Sept 6 (ANTARA) - An Australian parliamentary delegation is in Padang this week to view Australian Government-funded reconstruction efforts, following the 2009 earthquake, and aid programs in the region, the Australian Embassy here said on its official website on Thursday. Australia committed nearly A$19 million to support emergency relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts in West Sumatra. The delegation will view a school, SDN04 Kajai Elementary School in Kota Pariaman, reconstructed thanks to a program jointly-funded by Australia and America, and a health care centre, Puskesmas Pauh Kambar, reconstructed with Australian Government funding. Houses re-built or retrofitted to earthquake safe specifications, through Australia`s Resilient Villages: Safe Earthquake Housing Project, will be visited, with parliamentarians able to meet local builders who have received training on construction methods. Australia`s expansive water and sanitation program is in operation in the Padang area. In the nearby village of Bungo Paso, the delegation will meet families who have had drinking water connections placed in their homes thanks to Australia`s support. The delegation will also meet with the Governor of West Sumatera, Mr Irwan Prayitno, and the head of Indonesia`s national disaster management agency (known as BNPB), Syamsul Maarif. This visit to Padang is part of a parliamentary study tour to Indonesia.