1,571 Families Of Flood Victims In Batola, South Kalimantan Receive Rp16 Billion Stimulus Fund, Disbursed In January Through BRI

Batola Regent Noormiliyani handed over aid symbolically from BNPB to flood-affected residents (ANTARA/HO)

KALSEL - A total of 1,596 families affected by flooding in Barito Kuala (Batola) Regency, South Kalimantan (Kalsel) immediately received stimulus funds from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). Funds will be given according to the level of damage to each victim's house.

Barito Kuala Regent Noormiliyani said the distribution of flood stimulus funds would be given in early January 2022 in four sub-districts, namely in Alalak, Mandastana, Jejangkit and Cerbon sub-districts.

Batola Regency received a total stimulus assistance from the central government of Rp. 16.210 billion for 1,596 houses consisting of 1,571 houses that were lightly damaged and 25 houses were moderately damaged. The aid was distributed to homes with minor damage of Rp. 10 million, while those with moderate damage received assistance of Rp. 25 million.

The most damage occurred in Jejangkit Sub-district, out of six villages identified houses that were damaged as many as 633 units/household. Then Mandastana as many as 624 units/household in 12 villages, Alalak 319 houses/household in nine villages, and Cerbon one village with 15 houses/household.

"There are still many residents whose houses have been affected by the flood and have not received assistance, considering that not all data has been accommodated," he said in Marabahan, Antara, Friday, November 26. Currently, he said, his party was submitting the second phase of the application.

The Regent apologized to the flood victims who had not received assistance. For residents who received assistance, the former chairman of the DPRD of South Kalimantan Province, he asked to be grateful and really use the assistance for home repairs, not for other purposes.

He also asked the sub-district heads and village heads to monitor that the funds given were actually used so that unwanted things did not happen.

"In addition, recipients of DSP assistance from BNPB have received stage one vaccination," he said.

The distribution of ready-to-use funds from BNPB according to the provisions is carried out non-cash through BRI. The Chief Executive (Kalak) of BPBD Batola Sumarno added that the distribution of the stimulant assistance could not be done simultaneously, because the recipient had to open an account at BRI first.

He explained, until now the administrative process has been 95 percent, for residents who already have an account, the funds will be directly transferred. One of the beneficiaries of Purnomo's assistance said he was grateful for the assistance provided.

The resident of Tabing Rimbah Village, Mandastana District, stated that the assistance was very light and would be used to repair the floors and walls of his house that was damaged.

According to him, Mandastana is one of the areas hit by the worst floods, which forced residents to leave their homes and everything in it to evacuate.

"My family and I have been evacuating for almost 20 days in a refugee camp. When it comes to property, including rice, everything is submerged in the house, it's been done," said the 60-year-old man.