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Updated: 25-Aug-2005 NATO Update

8 August 2005

Donated NATO bridges up in Indonesia

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18/04/2005 - NATO
NATO bridges arrive in Indonesia

A ceremony held on 8 August in Banda Aceh, marked the opening of the first of four bridges donated by NATO to Tsunami-hit Indonesia.

In March 2005, the Alliance donated equipment and material sufficient to build 565 meters of bridges in order to assist Indonesia in dealing with the consequences of the December 2004 Tsunami disaster.

The bridges, valued at more than 6 million Euros, are a donation to Indonesia and will not be returned to NATO.

Facilitating reconstruction

The Netherlands, with support from the United Kingdom, transported the equipment to Indonesia.

The bridge was built by teams from the Indonesian Ministry of Public Works and the Indonesian Army, who were trained by instructors of the Engineers of the Netherlands Royal Army in July 2005.

Another two bridges have been built approximately 60 kilometres outside of Banda Aceh. A fourth bridge will be built in the area of Lhamno and is due to be opened in September.

All the bridges are in areas hit by the Tsunami and will facilitate the reconstruction of roads in the area.