Post-tsunami and earthquake housing reconstruction project in Singkil, Aceh

After the devastating earthquake followed by a tsunami in Aceh in 2004, and the severe earthquake off the coast of Nias Island in 2005, the focus was on rebuilding the destroyed villages and towns in northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

The Eco Hapakat Foundation took part in this massive program by seconding one of our construction experts, Ali Rahman, to Caritas Switzerland for two years. Ali Rahman was responsible for the design and construction of many hundreds of houses that were newly built by Caritas Switzerland in the city of Singkil, .

In the process, we were all able to learn a great deal from the successes and mistakes that occurred during the reconstruction efforts and the aid provided by both international and local NGOs to the local population in the aftermath of these gigantic natural disasters.