World Vision’s Work in Indonesia

To the Editor:

The article “Indonesians’ Hopes for Rebuilding Recede” (December 8) reflects well the frustrations in rebuilding homes for tsunami victims.

In one instance, it gives a one-sided view of World Vision’s work in Dayah Mamplam.

We found the ground where Dayah Mamplam was located had sunk due to the earthquakes and was unsafe to rebuild upon. World Vision plans to relocate the community to higher — and safer — ground. Construction will begin in January and is scheduled to be completed in May.

The article also noted that we revised downward our projected numbers of new homes to be built but it didn’t explain why we did so: Our revision was due to lower revised estimates from the Indonesian government on how many homes were needed. …

At the moment, World Vision has 349 permanent homes under construction across Aceh. As your article noted, 4,000 homes are planned. …

World Vision is proud of the work that has been done, but we are not satisfied. We are in a marathon, not a sprint. We will stay the course.

Dean R. Hirsch
President
World Vision International
Monrovia, Calif.

Editor’s note: The Chronicle stands by its article. Neither World Vision’s representative in Banda Aceh, nor Indonesian officials, told The Chronicle that estimates by the country’s government were the reason the charity plans to build 4,000 houses, not the 15,000 it originally said it would build.