The Minister of Home Affairs ensures that the refugees in Pidie Jaya are worthy of living.

Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian ensures that the temporary housing (huntara) for refugees in Pidie Jaya Regency, Aceh, is habitable. ANTARA/HO-Kemendagri

JAKARTA - The Minister of Home Affairs and Chairman of the Post-disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Task Force for Sumatra, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, has ensured that temporary housing or huntarabagi refugees in Pidie Jaya Regency, Aceh, is habitable.

"I've seen, it's very worthy. There is a place to play for children, there are women's toilets, men's toilets are separated. In the rooms it is also worthy, there are two-bed beds, there are plastic cabinets, there are fans. And the atmosphere is very comfortable," said Tito in his statement in Jakarta, Thursday.

This was conveyed by the Minister of Home Affairs during an inspection of the temporary housing (huntara) built by Danantara for disaster refugees in the area of the Office of the Musabaqah Tilawatil Quran (MTQ), Pidie Jaya Regency, Aceh.

During the inspection, the Minister of Religion was accompanied by the Regent of Pidie Jaya Sibral Malasyi and the Deputy Governor of Aceh Fadhlullah.

Tito also took the time to visit the huntara area to ensure the feasibility and completeness of facilities and infrastructure for refugees.

Based on data from the Pidie Jaya Regency Government, there are 162 huntara units from Danantara which have been equipped with children's play facilities as well as adequate bathroom and sanitation facilities.

Tito also took the time to talk to a number of refugees. Some of them admitted that they were comfortable living in the huntara because it was considered more comfortable and had adequate facilities.

Apart from the huntara from Danantara, Tito revealed that the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) also built around 100 huntara units in front of the Pidie Jaya MTQ Building which was intended for residents who lost their homes or suffered heavy damage.

"Hopefully it can help the community, especially those (houses) that are severely damaged and lost," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, January 22.

The Minister of Home Affairs admitted that he was impressed and appreciated the cross-sectoral cooperation between the central government and local governments who worked together to build a shelter for refugees.

He is also optimistic that with this collaboration, the life of the people of Pidie Jaya will gradually recover and return to normal.

"So we see very good progress. Thank you very much to the Regent, to the Deputy Governor, to the Head of BNPB, and especially to Danantara who prepared this, and the Head of BNPB who has prepared [huntara] in front," said Tito.

The visit of the Head of the Post-disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Acceleration Task Force to Pidie Jaya is part of a series of agendas to review the progress of post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction in Aceh.