GERMAN RED CROSS SPENT 34 MILLION EURO ON RECONSTRUCTION IN NIAS, ACEH

Banda Aceh, Oct. 18 (ANTARA) - The German Red Cross (GRC) has spent 34 million Euro, out of a total of 129 million Euro donated by the German people, on reconstruction programs in tsunami-hit Nias (North Sumatra) and Aceh Province in the northern part of Sumatra Island, a spokesman said.

"The funds amounting to 34 million Euro have been used to implement the (reconstruction) program and the expenditures have been duly audited," Dr Johannnes Richert, head of the GRC International and Domestic Program Service Devision, said in Sabang on Friday, after visiting GRC-funded housing, school and community health center (puskesmas) projects.

Richert made the visit in Aceh to represent Dr Rudolph Seiters, who fell ill upon his arrival in Jakarta on Thursday. However, Dr Seiters managed to meet the chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), Marie Muhammad, in Jakarta earlier.

GRC sent a humanitarian mission to Aceh soon after the province was hit by a deadly tsunami on December 26, 2004. GRC helped by providing drinking water facilities and medical equipment to serve tsunami victims.

So far GRC had constructed 1,499 houses, 24 schools and 10 community health centers in Aceh and Nias.