Ciajur Earthquake Victims Get Additional Assistance, Heavy Damaged Houses Become IDR 60 Million, Light IDR 30 Million

Areas affected by the Cianjur earthquake in Sarampad, Cianjur, West Java, Sunday 27 November 2022. (Between-Novrian A)

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy stated that the government would increase the nominal amount of financial assistance for houses damaged by the earthquake in Cianjur, West Java (Jabar).

"There will be a change in stimulant aid which will later be issued from ready-to-use funds from the National Disaster Management Agency or BNPB for heavily damaged houses whose value of Rp. 50 million will be increased to Rp. 60 million. Then, for moderately damaged from Rp. 25 million, it will increase to Rp. 30 million," said Muhadjir at a press conference at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture's Office, Jakarta, Tuesday, November 21, confiscated by Antara.

He added that the victims of houses that were lightly damaged would also be increased, from Rp. 10 million to Rp. 15 million, and the implementation would be issued through regulations from the Head of BNPB.

Muhadjir also emphasized that the addition of the nominal assistance for damaged houses was carried out based on the direction of President Joko Widodo.

Meanwhile, the Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto said that the nominal addition of costs for houses damaged by the Cianjur earthquake that occurred on November 21, 2022 was based on various reasons, one of which was the price of building materials which continued to increase from year to year.

"The consideration of housing stimulant assistance is indeed to replace people's houses that have been destroyed by disasters since 2010, of course with the development of time and material prices increasing, so lastly, when the Cianjur disaster is estimated, the funds are not sufficient to build a decent house for disaster survivors," he said.

Previously, the Regent of Cianjur Herman Suherman stated that there were still many earthquake survivors in his area who lived in emergency housing and tents even though they had received assistance waiting for housing to rent their house for various reasons.

Most survivors, he said, argued that it was difficult to find a rented house and rented location far from the village, so they still chose to stay in tents and emergency housing.

"We have provided housing assistance of Rp. 500 thousand per month for three months, but the survivors chose to stay in tents and emergency housing for various reasons, while waiting for the four-liquid stimulant assistance," said Herman.