YOGYAKARTA - The Sleman district government requested disbursement of social safety net funds for the survivors of the Mount Merapi eruptions.
The request, which would hold until December 2011 if implemented, was sent to the central government via the Ministry of Social Affairs, said Sleman district Head Sri Purnomo Saturday.
“The Mount Merapi disaster victims who are still living in shelters need time to rebuild their lives by themselves. We therefore ask the central government for social safety net funds until December 2011,” he said.
“We do hope that funds are provided for more than just a month.”
Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri told journalists, during his visit to the shelters in Plosokerep village, Cangkringan, that each survivor required only Rp5,000 per day and that further considerations depended on the Ministry’s budget.
“We are going to consider the proposal. If it is possible, and if our budget is still available, then we will provide the money,” he said.
The district government noted that 680 displaced families (1,965 survivors) had previously received government-sponsored social safety net funds. However, many still require further aid.
The volcano erupted on multiple occasions in 2010, but it’s most fatal eruptions occurred on October 26, and November 5. At least 259 people perished, with many others sustaining critical burns.
867 hectares of forested land on the volcanic slopes of Yogyakarta’s Sleman district were destroyed, and material losses from the incident came in at an estimated Rp33 billion. The eruption damaged a considerable amount of forest and plantation space, including parts of Merapi National park, and local citizen’s plantations.
Mount Merapi, having erupted several times since 1548, is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia.
source : waspada.co.id
