Disaster Relief Task Force optimistic on completing total refugee relocation before Eid al-Fitr

The trend of declining refugee numbers will continue through to the forthcoming Eid al-Fitr celebration, according to officials. “We are optimistic that the number of refugees will continue to decrease and occupy temporary shelters (huntara). As a result, we will no longer see refugees in tents,” said Amran in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.

According to him, the strategy for reducing the number of refugees to temporary shelters has been working effectively, resulting in a quite significant decline in refugee numbers.

Based on the daily report from Satgas PRR as of 9 March, a decline in the number of refugees was recorded compared to two days earlier. The breakdown showed that in Aceh, the number of refugee households decreased from 2,099 to 1,695 currently residing in refugee tents, a reduction of 404 households. In North Sumatra, the figure dropped from 201 to 177 households still in temporary tents, a decrease of 24 households. Meanwhile, West Sumatra Province has reported zero refugees remaining in temporary tents.

This decline in the number of refugees in tents is also aligned with the acceleration of temporary shelter construction in the three affected provinces. Of the planned 18,697 temporary shelter units across the three affected provinces, 13,431 units have been completed as of now, representing approximately 71 per cent of the overall target.

West Sumatra’s temporary shelter construction has even reached 100 per cent completion, North Sumatra has reached 92 per cent, and Aceh is at approximately 68 per cent.

In addition to temporary shelter construction, the government’s strategy for reducing the number of refugees has been accompanied by assistance in the form of a Temporary Housing Fund (Dana Tunggu Hunian) for disaster survivors who chose not to reside in temporary shelters.

To date, all accounts of DTH recipients have received fund transfers, with a disbursement rate of 100 per cent for 12,771 beneficiaries across the three provinces.