J

an. 23, p5

The Mount Sinabung eruptions in Karo regency have not only had an adverse impact on the local economy, but also on the rare wildlife surviving around the mountain as well as the traditional customs of the surrounding communities.

Your comments:

It is so simple to say we shall relocate the villagers.  How long will it take them to create fields of a quality that will replace the ones that they had until four months ago? They have lost much of their livestock and other animals as well.

The homes in places like Sigarang Garang are simple but comfortable.  I stayed there briefly, many years ago. Will the government provide them equivalent housing or only the rudiments of survival shelter, I suspect the latter. If the government cannot provide adequate water, sanitation, food etc. in temporary shelters, what confidence should these people have?

I truly hope that I am proven wrong in this tragic situation.

WT Winter

The relief program must factor in all relevant living conditions that will ensure the relocation is a success. There will be promises made by politicians, but I suspect that if or when the volcano settles down again the relocated villagers will be forgotten.    I too hope that this is not the case.

Colroe