Germany Says it Won't Forget South Asia | Deutsche Welle |

Germany is shifting gears in its tsunami relief efforts, but it looks to be committed to the long haul - and it's assuming that corruption exists and is demanding careful accounting of funds. This is not to mention that it isn't even giving checks to governments, but to specific projects. Just to be on the safe side, I guess.

Three months following the tsunami disaster in the Indian Ocean, the German government has committed itself to long-term aid in the region. But it will closely follow the funds’ implementation.

The German government is shifting gears in its support for areas devastated by the December tsunami. Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said Germany’s initial acute emergency aid would now increasingly go into reconstruction efforts.

These would focus on Sri Lanka and Indonesia, the hardest-hit countries in the region, she added.

Germany has provided 84.6 million euros ($110.2 million) in emergency aid so far. In the next three to five years, a further 500 million euros will follow.

“We will focus our aid in particular on health care, education, vocational training, housebuilding, as well as the reconstruction of local government and economy,” Wieczorek-Zeul said in Berlin...

The Deutsche Welle article lays things out clearly. Click on the title link for the rest of it.

Hello, Germany? Thanks.