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)