237 Sikka Earthquake Survivors Return Home, BNPB Accelerates Recovery

A total of 84 families, or 237 people, who had been sheltering at the Samador Sports Hall in Maumere, Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, began returning to their respective homes on Monday (24/8).

Acting Head of the BNPB Data, Information and Disaster Communication Centre, Berton SP Panjaitan, said the return was part of a phased recovery process. The move was taken after the survivors’ homes were confirmed safe to occupy based on current field analysis.

The atmosphere at Samador Sports Hall on Monday afternoon appeared orderly as survivors began packing their personal belongings and cleaning their temporary living areas. Before leaving the site, each family was called based on family card data to receive basic necessities to support their initial activities at home.

The return process was facilitated by BNPB in cooperation with the Sikka Regency Government, the Social Service, the Indonesian Navy, the Civil Service Police Unit, and Basarnas. The joint team provided vehicles to transport residents along with their belongings and food aid directly to their homes.

This initial phase of returns was prioritised for residents whose homes only suffered minor damage with stable building structures. Since the 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck on Saturday (15/8), a total of 300 families or 1,290 people had been sheltering at Samador Sports Hall. With the return of 237 people, 216 families or 1,053 people remain at the evacuation site.

Berton stressed that BNPB and the regional government continue to collect data and verify the level of house damage as the basis for providing assistance. The government has prepared a repair funding support scheme with the following details:

For residents whose homes suffered severe damage, the government is providing a temporary solution in the form of a Housing Waiting Fund of Rp600,000 per month. This fund can be used to rent temporary accommodation or occupy temporary shelters until permanent housing construction is completed.

BNPB has ensured that all support will be provided accountably based on the results of damage level validation. The return of some survivors is a positive signal that emergency handling in Sikka is beginning to move towards the long-term recovery phase so that residents can resume their activities safely and comfortably.