W. Sulawesi Quake: BPNB Calls for Immediate Completion of Data Collecting for House Rehabilitation

President Jokowi visits quake-affected regions in West Sulawesi, Tuesday (19/1). (Photo by: Presidential Secretariat/Lukas)

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has called for immediate completion of data collecting on victims of 6.2 Magnitude earthquake in West Sulawesi province whose houses were damaged by the quake.

Head of the BNPB Doni Monardo said that the data must be completed as soon as possible so that the agency can start post-disaster rehabilitation immediately even during emergency transition stage.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Tuesday (19/1) affirmed that the Government will give as much as Rp50 million for rebuilding of heavily damaged houses, Rp25 million for moderately damaged houses, and Rp10 million for slightly damaged houses.

The aid, coupled with support from the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri), is expected to accelerate rehabilitation process so the victims will not stay at evacuation posts for a long time.

For that reason, Doni asserted that rather than building temporary housing units for those affected by the deadly earth quake, the Government will provide cash aid for house rebuilding.

“We will accelerate rebuilding of heavily and moderately damaged houses. As for slightly damaged houses, the Government will provide the cash aid and monitor the rehabilitation,” he said. (NATIONAL DISASTER MITIGATION AGENCY PR/PBK/UN) (RAS/EP)