Disaster Survivors Find Comfort in Pidie Jaya Temporary Shelters
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Flood survivors have reported feeling comfortable living in the 212 temporary shelter (huntara) units in Pidie Jaya Regency, Aceh, of which 162 units were built by Danantara and the remainder by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). The keys were handed over on Saturday (14 February).
Ainun Mardiyah, one of the shelter residents, expressed gratitude for receiving accommodation far more comfortable than the disaster relief posts.
“We are very happy, because we had nothing and were given this housing,” Ainun told ANTARA on Monday.
Echoing Ainun’s sentiments, Irna Sari, another shelter resident, said the temporary accommodation was safer for her family.
“For me, this place is very comfortable. It’s much better compared to the evacuation post,” said Irna, who had spent approximately three months at an evacuation centre.
The newly inaugurated shelters are equipped with two beds, one wardrobe, and one fan per unit. Common facilities include toilets, a children’s playground, and a communal kitchen.
However, Irna expressed hope that the communal kitchen, one of the key facilities, would be made operational soon. Since the inauguration, the kitchen has yet to begin operating.
“It’s been two days and the communal kitchen still isn’t active. We have to buy our own food, including rice. We urge the government to activate the communal kitchen,” said Irna.
The Pidie Jaya Regency Government previously confirmed that a total of 773 households have moved into the temporary shelters as part of the first phase of relocating Sumatra disaster survivors from evacuation posts.
Going forward, the Pidie Jaya Regency Government will work in synergy with the central government and stakeholders to accelerate the relocation of survivors to the prepared temporary shelters.
In the near term, 96 temporary shelter units in Pidie Jaya Regency are expected to be ready for occupation ahead of the month of Ramadan.
The shelters, constructed by the Ministry of Public Works, have now reached 95 per cent completion and are in the final stage of being furnished.