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Development of 2,072 houses for tsunami victims in Mentawai rescheduled
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has decided to reschedule the development of permanent housing for 2,072 households of tsunami survivors in Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra, an official has said
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he National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has decided to reschedule the development of permanent housing for 2,072 households of tsunami survivors in Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra, an official has said.
Mentawai Islands Regent Rijel Samaloisa said BNPB chairman Syamsul Maarif had agreed to reschedule the development of the housing, with a new deadline set for December.
'It is also agreed that a Joint Secretariat will be established in Mentawai. The BNPB will take care of fund-related matters and has agreed to advance the construction money using the agency's funds,' said Rijel, who has been appointed as Joint Secretariat coordinator, on Thursday.
The secretariat comprises several organizations, including representatives from the World Bank, which helps fund facilitators, and several NGOs with experience of helping tsunami victims.
Previously, around 2,072 households of who had lost their homes due to the Mentawai tsunami were devastated when the original plan to build permanent housing for them failed to be realized as scheduled.
The West Sumatra administration, which organized that first housing development plan, said that construction would begin in May of this year and completed in August.
Up until now, none of the houses have been developed. Even plans to clear forest areas in North Pagai, Sipora and South Pagai islands, which were set to be used as resettlement areas, are yet to be implemented.
Ten tsunami victims, accompanied by the Mentawai regent and his deputy and several Mentawai Legislative Council members, complained last week in Jakarta about the lack of progress in the development to the BNPB chairman and the House of Representatives' Commission VIII on social affairs.
'We were worried about them. They complained about the problem but we couldn't do anything so we brought them to put their case in Jakarta,' Rijel said. (apt/ebf)
