Up until now, spatial planning has been neglected in villages, so the ongoing reconstruction effort is an ideal way to establish this kind of organizational approach to development. Sanitation is the main issue for most villages in Simeulue, even though there is an adequate number of plenty of fresh water sources. According to one report, the vast majority of the existing houses there do not have indoor toilets. “Through this ongoing project, we will overcome this problem so that outbreaks of diseases spread through water can be prevented,” said one of the UN-HABITAT field facilitators. Up to now, people have been defecating and urinating in bushes or wooded areas. We are now building bathrooms with toilets at the rear of the aid houses,” he explained. “The earthquake ruined our lives, but now, it seems, it was a blessing in disguise.We will now have a neat and orderly village,” said Sumali from Ganting village.His old house,which was flattened by the earthquake, was not far from the ocean. Now, he is waiting for the completion of his new house, which is further inland. “Once I have enough money, I will upgrade it for my children and grandchildren,” he added.
UN-HABITAT is implementing this project with funds provided by AEDES and SGHI through UNDP. AEDES is the Dutch umbrella organisation for public housing corporations and often provides funding and technical assistance to poor communities outside the Netherlands.For Indonesia,it has been cooperating with the partner organization SGHI. Once the construction of the over 600 houses is completed on East Simeulue Island, the eastern coast will feature rows of concrete houses with shiny ceramic roofs,all neatly maintained and standing proudly in the area stretching from Kuala Makmur through to Ganting,Sambai,and Sibao.