BNPB: Residents Affected By South Minahasa Abrasion Prepared For Shelters

Aerial view map of the relocation of residents affected by abrasion in South Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi. (ANTARA/HO-BNPB)

JAKARTA - Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Suharyanto said residents affected by abrasion in South Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi, will be prepared for temporary shelter (huntara) by the local government.

"The local government is also expected to immediately take a policy to provide new (permanent) residential land for people who are currently affected or threatened by coastal abrasion," said Suharyanto in a written statement quoted by Antara, Friday, June 24.

The implementation, said Suharyanto, will coordinate with the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), as has been done for residents affected by the Mount Semeru Hot Avalanche Cloud (APG) in Lumajang, East Java.

"I will ask for help from the Ministry of PUPR so that it can be done quickly. They already have a prototype, as has been done for residents of the slopes of Semeru," said Suharyanto.

The temporary residence is located in the Plantation area of Bitung Village (the road complex to the village kilometer 3). Later, this temporary residence will be inhabited by residents whose houses are affected by abrasion who are still surviving in the refugee camps.

In addition, a traditional market relocation plan is also being prepared, considering that this market is close to the affected point and is at risk of being hit by a similar disaster if it remains in that location.

Based on data compiled by the BNPB Operations Control Center (Pusdalops) as of Friday (24/6) at 01.20 WIB, it was stated that the number of refugees was 127 families / 387 people, with details of 53 families / 134 people at BPBU Lewet Village, 46 families / 158 people in Uwuran Dua PGA Sentrum Hall and 28 families/95 people at the home of family or relatives.