Over 1,000 migrants flee quake-hit Nabire

Over 1,000 migrants flee quake-hit Nabire

The Jakarta Post, Makassar/Jayapura/Kupang

As many as 1,130 migrants who fled Nabire regency, Papua after a
series of deadly earthquakes, arrived home in Makassar, South
Sulawesi, on Tuesday morning on board a motor boat.

No local social affairs officials were seen at the Makassar
port to welcome the refugees, nor did the authorities there
provide them with temporary accommodation.

Those who were not picked up by their families had to wait for
hours at the port and find cars to carry them to their respective
hometowns.

The victims, hailing from Mars, Pangkajene Islands (Pangkep),
Bone, Tana Toraja, Sidenreng Rappang (Sidrap) and Bulukumba, left
Nabire on Saturday aboard the Labobar fearing major aftershocks.

The Nabire Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said on Tuesday
at least 156 aftershocks had been recorded since an earthquake
killed 32 people in the regency on Nov. 26.

"We are afraid if further bigger quakes take place.
Aftershocks continued after we left Nabire. Even when we were at
the port, an aftershock occurred, forcing us to rush aboard the
ship," said refugee Kasman, 29, from Rantepao, Tana Toraja
regency.

Another victim Ayu Astati, 20, from Sidrap, confirmed that
major aftershocks were felt in several parts of Nabire. "What I
was concerned about at that time was how to save myself and my
family. We immediately left our home for a safer area," she said.

However, Ayu and other migrant victims said they wanted to
return to Nabire once the situation there had returned to normal,
as most of them had left everything behind in the town.

In general, the refugees arrived carrying only bags of
clothing.

"If Nabire is declared safe, we will return there because our
wealth and assets like plantations and merchandise are still
there," Kasman said.

Apart from causing the deaths of 32 people and injuring
hundreds of others, the powerful quake also cost some Rp 500
billion (US$55 million) in material losses to Nabire, local
official Umar Katili said on Tuesday.

He said the amount was calculated from the extensive damage to
hundreds of houses, other buildings and public facilities
including an airport and roads, schools and government offices.

The local office of state-owned electricity firm PT PLN and
telecommunication company PT Telkom alone suffered Rp 6 billion
each in losses from the disaster, Umar added.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla visited Nabire on Tuesday and
personally delivered Rp 2 billion in emergency aid for the
victims.

Kalla handed over the check to Nabire Regent A.P. Youw in an
ceremony, witnessed by Papua Governor J.P. Salossa, and asked for
the money to be used wisely to meet the needs of the quake
victims.

He also urged the local government and legislative council to
draft a bylaw regulating the construction of tremor-proof
housing.

Kalla said the houses should be rebuilt using local materials
to keep the cost down and to ensure their affordability.

"The development of Nabire needs serious attention from the
government after being hit by earthquakes twice this year," he
said.

The Japanese government provided the quake victims with 150
plastic mats, 1,000 blankets and 996 mattresses. The aid was
delivered to Governor Salossa in a ceremony held on Monday at
Frans Kaisiepo Airport in Biak regency.

From Nabire, Kalla later flew to Alor regency in East Nusa
Tenggara to visit victims of another devastating quake that
killed at least 34 people earlier in November.

The Vice President also gave Rp 2 billion in aid to rebuild
schools, bridges, government buildings, roads, irrigation and
other public facilities damaged or destroyed by the disaster.

"The government promises that there will be no victims without
food or medicine or continuing to sleep in tents," Kalla said.

Alor Regent Ans Takalapeta asked the central government to
allocate some Rp 160 billion from the 2005 state budget for a
reconstruction program in the regency.