Bajawa spends Rp 14b on refugees

Bajawa spends Rp 14b on refugees

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): The Bajawa regency
administration has spent a total of Rp 14 billion to deal with
thousands of refugees dislocated from their villages due to the
eruption of Wawo Muda volcano on Jan. 11.

The deputy head of the development office at the regency, L.A.
Lowa told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that the money had been
allocated from the current regency budget.

"The money has been used for the evacuation of people from
eight villages to relocation sites in Boewae district, and to
purchase at least 12 tons of rice, and other food," Lowa said,
adding that East Nusa Tenggara governor Piet Alexander Tallo
donated five tons of rice, and Bajawa people gave 3.7 tons of
rice.

According to Lowa, at least 4,000 of more than 7,500 people,
who had to seek refuge following the Jan. 11 eruption of Wawo
Muda volcano, some 13 kilometers southern Bajawa, have now
returned home. There were no fatalities reported from the
eruption.

"The situation has cleared now. Wawo muda volcano, and not Ina
Like as earlier reported, is still spewing ash but it's not too
dangerous even though we must be aware of poisonous gases,"
Alowisius Soi, an officer at the refugee post in Bajawa told The
Jakarta Post on Thursday.

The rest of the refugees, some 3,930 people are still in
shelters after sheltering in Bajawa, Boawae and Soa subdistricts.

Those who are still at the relocation sites are mostly
villagers of Ina Like and Wololika, which are both still in
danger.

Quoting a report from the Directorate General of volcanology
in Bandung, West Java, Lowa said that the two villages were not
recommended for living in.

Alowisius said that 25 people, mostly suffering from diarrhea,
were still being treated in local hospitals and health centers.

A special team, he added, were still investigating the
material loss from the eruption which has destroyed farmers'
harvests and killed cattle.

The eruption was the first recorded for the emergent volcano
Wawo Muda, while the mountain of Ina Like last erupted in 1905.
(yac/hdn/29)