Garut to develop refugee shelters

GARUT, West Java: The local regional settlement and infrastructure office will develop camps for refugees in the regency's south because the Gasela area is quite prone to landslides and mudflows.

A study by the Directorate General of Volcanology and Disaster Mitigation, indicated that the Gasela area was prone to natural disasters because of its geological condition that triggered landslides and mudflows during the rainy season almost every year, head of the local regional settlement and infrastructure office Widiyana said here on Saturday.

"We need permanent camps in adjacent areas free from disasters for as long as the people living in the landslide-prone areas choose not to relocate," he said.

The subdistricts prone to natural disasters are Talegong, Cisewu, Bungbulang, Pakenjeng, Pamulihan, Singajaya, Banjarwangi, Cisompet, Cihurip and Cikelet. -- JP