Bahorok victims cry out for help<\/p>\n
Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
More than 400 families languishing in refugee camps since last
\nyear's deadly flood in Bahorok, North Sumatra, have asked the
\ngovernment to disburse a promised Rp 50 billion (US$5.9 million)
\nin resettlement funds.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) executive
\ndirector Longgena Ginting said on Thursday various government
\nministries claimed to have set aside funds for the refugees, but
\nthe money had yet to reach the people.<\/p>\n
Three representatives of the victims came to Jakarta in mid-
\nMarch to push for the disbursement of the money, but to no avail,
\nGinting said.<\/p>\n
\"Food is getting scarce there. Yet these victims have been
\npassed back and forth between the local administration and the
\ncentral government and back again,\" Ginting told The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
Shortly after a flash flood hit the Bahorok tourist resort in
\nNorth Sumatra on Nov. 2, 2003, leaving 157 people dead and 83
\nothers missing, the government pledged Rp 50 billion (US$5.8
\nmillion) in aid for the survivors.<\/p>\n
The funds were to be used to build 400 low-cost houses for the
\nvictims and to rebuild public facilities in the destroyed resort.<\/p>\n
However, the victims said they still had heard nothing about
\nthe rebuilding plans.<\/p>\n
A post-flood reconstruction team was set up in February under
\na decree from the North Sumatra governor.<\/p>\n
\"None of the victims were included on the team, and after six
\nmonths there is still no news on the rebuilding plans,\" said
\nGinting.<\/p>\n
He said the Ministry of Resettlement and Regional
\nInfrastructure had half of the promised Rp 50 billion funds, but
\nwas waiting for the Langkat regent to formulate a new eco-tourism
\nconcept for Bahorok before releasing the money.<\/p>\n
It was promised that the Rp 25 billion would be transferred
\nwithin a week, but this has not been confirmed, Ginting added.<\/p>\n
Another Rp 1.5 billion was earmarked last November as aid for
\nthe families of the dead, with each family to receive Rp 2
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
Ginting said that only a little, if any, of that money had
\nreached the families. \"So far, the victims have only received Rp
\n672 million, mostly from public charities.\"<\/p>\n
Walhi urged the government to take immediate steps to address
\nthe food, medicine, clothing and housing shortages the refugees
\nare dealing with.<\/p>\n
\"Officials from the Ministry of Social Affairs promised to
\nprovide them with assistance when we met with them two weeks ago,
\nbut we haven't heard anymore from them,\" said Ginting.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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