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Monaco's Prince Inaugurated Homes and School for Tsunami-affected Families

On Sunday, 3 December, H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco paid a visit to Sirombu village, Nias Island, Indonesia. Accompanied by a delegation from the Monaco-Asia Society, Prince Albert inaugurated 239 homes and one school that had been built for Tsunami victims and families in Sirombu.

Called the Monaco Complex, these homes were built with generous donations from the Monaco-Asia Society (MAS), of which Prince Albert is the honorary chairman. As a collaboration between MAS and the United in Diversity Forum (UID) and its partners, this project started shortly after the Asian Tsunami of December 2004 hit this remote island in northern Sumatra.

While the Sirombu community was trying to recover from this tragedy, another one happened. In March 2005, strong-magnitude earthquakes took more lives and further destroyed the village and its infrastructures.

Nevertheless, with continued commitment from MAS, UID, and its partners, the rebuilding of Sirombu resumed in May and, as of August 2005, it was among the first housing projects in Indonesia to be occupied by tsunami-affected families.

"At the start of this project, we said that we would work together until the last house [in Sirombu] is built, and I am glad to see that we have done it," said Mr. Francesco Bongiovanni, President of MAS.

"Our collaboration has borne fruits: What you see before you today is a new Sirombu, one that is stronger and more united than before" said Mr. Rosihan Arsyad, President of UID. This project shows "what is possible when we put our heads, hands, and hearts together".

Prince Albert and the Monaco delegation, UID Forum, and guests present at this event were warmly welcomed by the head of the Nias regency and residents of the Sirombu community. In his remarks, the prince expressed his satisfaction with the project and appreciation for the works that UID and its partners—namely Zero-to-One Foundation, For a Drug-free Indonesia Foundation (YCAB), and Conservation International (CI)—had done.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Thang D. Nguyen
Director, Public Affairs
The United in Diversity Forum (UID)

Tel.: +62 (0)21 352 3217
Fax: +62 (0) 21 380 5663
Email: thang.nguyen@unitedindiversity.org