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