Tsunami victims soon to get new homes<\/p>\n
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Aceh Jaya<\/p>\n
Hayatul Nufus smiled. \"Please come in to my house\", she said,
\nwelcoming her guest into her simple house in Janguet village in
\nAceh Jaya regency, 90 kilometers from Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
The 28-year-old woman, who is now on her own after losing her
\nhusband and three children in the Dec. 26 tsunami, lives in a
\ntemporary house measuring six by four meters, comprising a room,
\na family room, a bathroom and a kitchen.<\/p>\n
The house has a cement floor, but no electricity, and the
\nwoman has to use oil lamps for light. There is very little
\nfurniture inside, only a mat and a small number of kitchen
\nappliances.<\/p>\n
\"All the residents in this village have refused to move to the
\nbarracks. We're blessed that we can get houses built in places
\nwhere our houses used to stand,\" she smiled.<\/p>\n
Compared to living in makeshift tents or in the barracks built
\nby the government for tsunami victims, this woman's house was
\nmuch more pleasant.<\/p>\n
Some 800 similar houses will be built by the Turkish
\norganizations Deniz Fineri Dernegi and International Brotherhood
\nand Solidarity Association (IBS).<\/p>\n
The houses will be built in several areas of Aceh Jaya
\nregency, including the worst-hit Babah Dua, Meunasah Teungoh and
\nJanguet villages in Jaya district.<\/p>\n
Under the plan, all people in these villages will get a
\ntemporary house, just like Hayatul's.<\/p>\n
Burhanuddin, a 56-year-old resident who works to build the
\nhouses, said the construction work has been going on for a month.<\/p>\n
The construction, he said, was slow because of problems in
\ngetting building materials, such as timber and cement. All
\nmaterials have to be transported from Banda Aceh, meaning a two
\nand a half an hour drive over a damaged road.<\/p>\n
Construction workers, he added, also have to be brought in
\nfrom outside Aceh Jaya, such as from Indrapuri district. The
\nworkers are being paid Rp 25,000 (US$2.60) a day.<\/p>\n
Moreover, he said, many people claim to own land and then ask
\nfor the houses to be constructed. \"Now, 10 houses in Janguet
\nvillage have to wait before the construction can be continued
\nbecause of this problem,\" Burhanuddin said.<\/p>\n
Mustafa Sabri of the Deniz Feneri Dernegi said that the 800
\nhouses would be built on the tsunami victims' own land.<\/p>\n
\"We don't construct (the houses) on other people's land. All
\nhouses are going to be built on their own land,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The organizations decided to build the houses in these three
\nvillages because they had been left-out in the reconstruction
\nprocess when compared to Banda Aceh, Calang or Meulaboh.<\/p>\n
\"We build houses, not barracks or temporary shelters. That's
\nwhat the people need most apart from food,\" Mustafa said.<\/p>\n
People's response to the houses has been good, with some
\nalready waiting to move in.<\/p>\n
Mak Ruyah, a 60-year-old resident of Meunasah Teungoh, lives
\nwith her children and grandchildren nearby to their prospective
\nhouse.<\/p>\n
\"I'm happy that we can live in a house again, without having
\nto pay anything,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The houses are expected to be finished soon, and soon all the
\nvillagers will again be able to greet their guests by saying,
\n\"please come in to our house\".<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tsunami-victims-soon-to-get-new-homes-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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