Merapi victims to be resettled

Merapi victims to be resettled

YOGYAKARTA: The government will resettle hundreds of victims of last year's Mount Merapi eruption in outer islands under the state-sponsored transmigration program.

Secretary to the Yogyakarta governor Suprastowo told reporters Saturday that transmigration was the best way the government could imagine of helping the farmers, who have been living in makeshift tents in evacuation centers since November.

Suprastowo said there were 706 families, comprising 2,600 people, living in such shelters in the Sleman regency. They are still permitted to farm their land on the Merapi slopes.

More than 50 people were killed and thousands left homeless when Merapi, still highly active, erupted in November. (02/pan)