The impact of the conflict, the tsunami and reconstruction on poverty in Aceh: Aceh poverty assessment 2008

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami caused devastating damage and loss in Aceh, both in economic and human terms. The global community, led by the Indonesian government, mobilized a reconstruction effort on an unprecedented scale for a developing country. Concurrent with these developments, and in part galvanized by the trauma of the tsunami, an historic peace agreement was reached between the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). Three years into the reconstruction effort, with vast amounts of aid having been spent, this reports aims to shed some light on questions regarding the ability of the early relief and reconstruction effort to alleviate poverty in Aceh. This report aims to offer the provincial government in Aceh and the reconstruction agency (BRR) a clearer picture of poverty in the post-conflict and tsunami environment in order to allow them to better design policies and programs to alleviate poverty in the province. In addition, it is important for the international community to gain a better understanding of poverty in Aceh post-tsunami, as the international community may well face similar disasters and the need for major reconstruction efforts in the future.