INDONESIA: 68H launches site for radio station rebuilding and relief in Aceh

Four 68H affiliate stations were completely destroyed in December tsunami

Media Development Loan Fund

Wednesday, February 9, 2005

 

AsiaMedia Editor's Note: The following is a story from the Media Development Loan Fund, a US organization providing funding for construction of four radio stations and the Aceh news service in Indonesia.

 

By Natasha Wanchek

AsiaMedia Contributing Writer

 

A web site for Radio News Agency 68H is now online to raise funds for rebuilding and communication efforts in the Aceh province of Indonesia. 68H had 14 affiliate stations in Aceh before the tsunami, and of these, four were completely destroyed. After rebuilding Radio Prima FM in Banda Aceh, 68H has started work on rebuilding two radio stations in Meulaboh and Sigli destroyed by the tsunami. The 68H technical team will rebuild Radio Dalka as well as to build a new community radio station. In Sigli, 68H is rebuilding Radio Megaphone. All three stations will be on air by February 24.

 

68H is also distributing radios to internally displaced people. A total of 400 sets will be distributed in Meulaboh and 300 in Sigli. In addition, 68H's volunteer team will build 20 fresh water wells in Meulaboh. The program was sponsored by 68H listeners, who have donated a total of $12,930 of which $3,970 has been used to build 32 wells in Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar. A minimum of 22 more wells are planned.

 

So far, Radio Megaphone in Sigli went back on air on Feb. 7, two weeks ahead of schedule. The Aceh News Service is already in operation, since Jan. 31, with a half hour program airing daily Monday to Friday and a one hour toll free phone in program on Sundays.

 

After the tsunami, 68H found innovative ways to provide services to listeners. The agency asked that listeners in areas cut off by the tsunami, who were able to do so, phone the station to provide news from where they lived. The agency reunited families by encouraging listeners outside Aceh who were looking for loved ones or those in Aceh wanting to send a message to relatives elsewhere to send text messages to the station that were then read out on air. In addition, 68H is setting up a daily news service for and about Aceh. Correspondents in the province will send news reports to 68H for editing into a daily half hour program that will be sent by satellite to 68H partner stations in Aceh enabling listeners to get access to regular and accurate information.

 

The 68H Tsunami Aid for Indonesia website provides photos and frequently updated information about Radio 68H's relief and reconstruction efforts. All donations will go toward relief efforts, and transactions provider Kagi.com agreed to reduce transaction fees to the absolute minimum.

 

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Natasha Wancheck is a Program Officer at the Program Officer Media Development Loan Fund in New York. MDLF is a non-profit investment fund for independent media in emerging democracies.

Date Posted: 2/9/2005