90 Days in Displacement: Semarang Residents Affected by Land Movement Await Government Relocation Promise

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, More than 60 residents of Kampung Sekip RT 07 RW 01, Jangli Ward, Tembalang District, Semarang City, Central Java, have been living in evacuation tents for 1.5 months. Since they were evacuated from their respective homes due to the land movement disaster, there has been no certainty about where they will be relocated. They are questioning the government’s promises.

That afternoon, on Thursday (2 April 2026), Suprihati (51 years old) was gathering with other women at the communal kitchen in the evacuation site. The distance from their affected residences to the evacuation location was not too far, only about 100 metres.

In the open communal kitchen, which was only roofed with a tent, Suprihati and the other women helped each other prepare dinner. The results of their cooking would later be shared by all the residents living in the evacuation tents.

“We cook together, divided into two teams: morning and afternoon,” said Suprihati when met by Republika at the location.

The evacuation tents for the Kampung Sekip residents were set up on an empty plot of land surrounded by trees. There were a total of five tents for the residents’ accommodation. According to Suprihati, one tent could accommodate up to ten people. “So one tent can house two to three families,” she said.

As it is currently the rainy season, Suprihati admitted that the evacuation tents often let in water, especially through the window areas. However, the residents there could do little about it because those tents were their only place to live.

“Actually, living here (in the evacuation site) is difficult in every way. But what can we do? We just try to stay happy,” said Suprihati.

At the evacuation site, there was one semi-permanent building with zinc walls, the interior of which was partitioned for two bathrooms. Next to it was a large water tank holding clean water for the residents’ needs.

According to Suprihati, during the 1.5 months living in the evacuation site, all residents never experienced a shortage of water. They regularly received aid for basic needs, including groceries. The evacuation site was also supplied with electricity.

Nevertheless, Suprihati and the other residents at the site have not received certainty about where they must live after leaving the evacuation tents. They feel it is no longer possible to return to their damaged or even collapsed homes due to the land movement.

“The land movement is still happening continuously. Now it’s even sinking more. At my house, the road in front has sunk almost two metres,” revealed Suprihati.

She received information that on 16 April 2026, all residents must move from the evacuation location. “The government’s promise is to find them housing. But we don’t know; we’ll just wait and see what happens on the 16th,” she said.