Gov’t Builds Houses for Disaster-Hit Communities in East Nusa Tenggara

Construction of RISHA housing units. Photo by: PR of Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing.

Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing has started the reconstruction of permanent housing for communities affected by flash floods and landslides in the Province of East Nusa Tenggara.

“The approach is ‘build back better’. We are not building (the houses) with the same vulnerability to disasters, but building better and safer than those of before,” Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono said as quoted by the Ministry’s website, Monday (17/05).

In accordance with the instruction of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, the earthquake-resistant houses with Healthy Modest Instant House (RISHA) technology will be constructed in two regions, namely Lembata Regency (700 units) and East Flores Regency (300 units). The construction is expected to be completed by the end of September this year.

The development of RISHA’s innovation is based on the need to accelerate the provision of livable housing for the victims of disasters in accordance with the Indonesian National Standard (SNI).

The RISHA housing units in Lembata Regency will be built in Waisesa I village and Getto village with a budget of Rp 85.5 billion, while the RISHA housing units in East Flores will be built in three areas in Adonara district, namely Oyangbarang village (​​1.2 hectares), Saosina village (4.5 hectares), and Nelelamadike village (1.4 hectares) with a budget of Rp 37.8 billion.

After the physical construction of the permanent housing is completed, the settlement process will be regulated by each regional government.

The Government will also immediately build RISHA permanent housing units in other regencies affected by disasters in accordance with the approval of Minister of Public Works and Public Housing. (PR of Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing/UN) (RI/MMB)