For three days, from 17th April to 19th April 2005, the workshop gathered a group of experts and academia that specialize in earthquake resistant construction of buildings as well as community based disaster management. This workshop was organized as a result of the recent tsunami that hit a major part of Aceh, resulting in numerous deaths and losses. The majority of the victims died due to trauma inflicted by huge blocks of concrete and other building materials that collapsed, or were washed away by the giant waves. One of the reasons why these buildings crumbled like a pack of cards was largely attributed to poor quality building materials. Building methods which did not take into consideration the value of incorporating anti-seismic features were also a contributory factor. As Aceh province is in an earthquake probe region and in the light of recent events and recurrent aftershocks, it is imperative that these measures and deficiencies are addressed by all stakeholders.

The objectives of this workshop are:

• Share LOCAL & REGIONAL knowledge and expertise in disaster risk reduction and response with the Acehnese stakeholders and communities
• Highlight the need for better understanding on features of ‘safe buildings’
• Internalize the concept of risk/living with risk using the “Shake Table” demonstration
• Launch and distribute brochures on ‘tsunami’ to vulnerable communities in Aceh
  

ADRRN was formed in 2002 through the initiative of UN OCHA and ADRC in Kobe. Both organisations felt that Asian NGOs should take the lead in helping Asians affected by natural disasters. Among the NGOs and other members of the network are experts in disaster management and earthquake technology. ADRRN is a network of members with varied and specific competencies and can share good and tested Asian ideas and practices with the Acehnese. This workshop have seen prevention & preparedness go into the rebuilding phase of Aceh. The organizers proved that the concept of risk can be internalized by all stakeholders especially the affected community, thus raising their awareness on the need for safer buildings, disaster preparedness and emergency response.

There were two phases of work carried out for the workshop:

Phase 1 involves on-the-job training of masons and engineers in the building of a ‘shake table’ and the construction of a model house with anti-seismic features in it. 2 Masons and Engineers from Nepal spent two weeks in Aceh prior to the workshop , working on these models together with their Acehnese counterparts. This is a training of trainers aiming for the local engineers and builders for them to be able to continue with similar demonstrations and knowledge sharing with their communities.

Phase 2 of the project was group training of construction workers and it was specifically a training of trainers and sharing of best practices. A full scale model house with all the safety features required and choice of building materials were built together with local workers. The house will be left as a model engineers, workers and masons can refer to. All phases of this project incorporated community ideas and design suitable for the Acehnese populations.

Among NGOs and agencies that participated in this workshop are MERCY Malaysia, NSET, SEEDS India, ALERT Philippines, University of Kyoto, Japan, UN OCHA Kobe, Japan, ADRC, Japan, Dinas Perkotaan & Permukiman (PERKIM), Aceh, Indonesia, and Universiti Syiah Kuala, Aceh, Indonesia.

The workshop highlight was the ‘shake table’ demonstration. In this exercise, local authorities, NGOs (Local and International), community leaders, women, children and other stakeholders witnessed a live simulation of the effects of earthquake on buildings. The vivid demonstration has helped internalize the need for safer buildings to be constructed. During this workshop, the tsunami preparedness brochures prepared by both organizations was also launched and distributed.

These were the activities during the workshop :

2nd April - 16 April 2005	9 local masons were trained by a structural expert from Nepal for 2 weeks to construct 2 model houses (ratio 1:10); a *typical Acehnese house and a similar structure which is fortified with anti-quake features built into the foundation. (*architectural plan provided by the C&S Engineering Dept of University Syiah Kuala)
17th April 2005	Training of Acehnese masons
18th April 2005	Training of professionals (engineers, architects), government personnel and NGOs involved in reconstruction
19th April 2005	‘Shake table’ demonstration Venue: Kg Weu Raya, Lhok Nga
The ‘Shake Table’ demonstration shows the total collapse of the typical Acehnese house built with no anti-quake features after a simex of 6.0 on the Richter scale vs a house built using safety features – models built on a 1:10 scale
1. 2. 3. 4. at intensity of 4.5 on the richter scale at the intensity of 6.0 at the richter scale

It is hoped that with this workshop there is a better understanding and urgency in putting in place standards and conformance in the construction of buildings in Aceh post tsunami. The organizers would like to thank all stakeholders such as the community, the government, international agencies and NGOs, corporate leaders and academia for attending this workshop.

If you are interested to know more, kindly email us at:

aceh@mercy.org.my
mercyaceh@yahoo.co.uk
president@mercy.org.my
Feedback@adrrn.net