PPKM Is Extended, Residents Of The Slopes Of Merapi At The Place Of Refuge Are Still Being Sent Home

Police guide refugees from the slopes of Mount Merapi in exercising together (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Residents on the slopes of Mount Merapi who took refuge in the barracks of Glagaharjo Village, Cangkringan District, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region have been repatriated.

This step was taken even though the Enforcement of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) was extended until 8 February.

"According to the initial plan, the refugees at the Glagaharjo barracks today will still be returned to their homes even though the PPKM is being extended," said Cangkringan Sub-district Head Suparmono as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, January 27.

The Sleman Regency Government plans to repatriate refugees from the Mount Merapi area from the Glagaharjo refugee barracks after the PPKM ends on January 26, 2021. However, this was canceled following the extension of the PPKM.

Currently there are 173 refugees in the Glagaharjo refugee barracks. The residents who took refuge in the Glagaharjo barracks were mainly people in vulnerable groups, including the elderly.

For the repatriation of refugees from the Glagaharjo barracks to Kalitengah Lor Hamlet, it was carried out using vehicles belonging to residents.

"The repatriation of refugees using vehicles belonging to residents of Kalitengah Lor, this makes it easier to implement health and 3M protocols than using large and mass transportation vehicles,"

"If there is a crisis in Mount Merapi, at any time it can be evacuated again," said Regional Secretary of Sleman Regency Harda Kiswaya.

The activity status of Mount Merapi is still at Level III or Alert. The sub-districts which are part of the disaster-prone areas (KRB) of Merapi's eruption are still on alert.

"Districts that have KRB areas to activate field posts and mobilize volunteers in their respective areas. Kelurahan to activate Disaster Management Implementation Units and mobilize volunteers in their respective areas. All of them continue to implement health protocols," concluded Harda.