Poso refugees remain in North Lore

Poso refugees remain in North Lore

PALU, Central Sulawesi: North Lore district secretary Markus
Beba said on Saturday that some 1,000 refugees from coastal Poso
have returned to their homes since August while some 2,000 others
remained in the district's highland area of Napu.

Three years of Mulsim-Christian conflicts had forced them to
flee to the temporary shelters, public facilities and residents'
houses. The refugees have earned a living by working on local
farms.

"They are reluctant to return home because they are still
afraid of the murders and attacks in their home villages (mostly
Christian). They said they would return if the government
provided them with houses and a guarantee of safety," Markus
said.

Wilda, 32, said that she and other refugees received eight
kilograms of rice and Rp 45,000 cash a day for each family from
regency administration last year. --Antara