A crowd of more than 1,500 people, including government officials and Moslem leaders, gathered in Meulaboh, West Aceh, on Dec. 26 for the hand-over ceremony of the homes.
Among those who attended the event were Salvation Army officials from Hong Kong and Macao, Major On Dieu Quang and Miss Karen Ng, respectively. There were in total about 200 representatives from non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
During the ceremony, Dr. Nasruddin (Bupati), Head of the West Aceh Region, thanked The Salvation Army for fulfilling its promise to build 500 homes. He praised the organisation saying that the government would support The Salvation Army in whatever they do and what they had done was wonderful.
The ceremony, which took place on Dec. 26, not only commemorated those who died in the earthquake and tsunami a year ago but also celebrated the hand-over, through the government, of 500 new houses to families in Suak Ribee and Suak Sigadeng, Meulaboh, the organisation noted.Three community members and a group representing the 500 beneficiary families received certificates, and Commissioner Watilete and Dr. Nasaruddin signed commemorative plaques that will be displayed in the villages.
Following the ceremony, the Territorial Commander and government representatives were welcomed into the new homes of beneficiaries who lived nearby before they visited The Salvation Army’s new public Health Clinic in Suak Ribee, which was donated by the United Kingdom’s Heathrow Rotary Club.
Jennifer Riley
Christian Today Correspondent
