Kabanjahe, Ekuatorial – North Sumatra Gatot Pujo Nugroho promised that settlements for Sinabung refugees will be completed in August.
“Starting on Sunday, forestry agency had already cut down trees [to built houses]. We hope that they can immediately move to those houses,” said Nugroho adding that 128 units were still in completion.
Out of 370 families, — 103 from Bekerah village, 136 from Sukameriah village, and 131 from Simacem villages –, only 112 families have been relocated to the new location in Siosar village.
Nugroho said that they were still in process for permit of land use change to plantation because Siosar village is located in protected area.
The relocation complex covers a total of 458 hectares for 2,053 houses meant for Sinabung refugees. The government had already allocated Rp 59.4 million (US$ 4,458) per house and a total of Rp 44.98 billion (US$ 3.3 million) for road and house development, excluded public facilities and plantation area.
Each house will be built in 100 square meters of land with one bed room, one main room and bath room.
Joni Sitepu, a refugee from Bekerah, said that villagers were waiting to be relocated immediately. “We want the government to also concern about our livelihood because areas promised for plantation is hard to manage,” he said adding that they were promised to be relocated since June and July.
Chief of Sinabung Eruption Disaster Emergency Respond Task, Asep Sukarna said that bad weather and difficult areas were hampering the development. However, Sukarna said that thousands of Indonesian Army soldiers already dispatched to open road access to the location.
Up to Tuesday (23/6), the government had distributed 124 tons of rice and 400 kilograms of sugar for refugees. Mei