University offers cheap shelters
Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta
A Yogyakarta-based disaster research center has offered its designs for light, cheap and easy-to-assemble shelters as temporary solutions for tsunami refugees. The Indonesian Islamic University's Center for Earthquake Engineering, Dynamic Effects and Disaster Studies said the shelters could be used by the refugees in the recovery period following last week's devastating tsunami.
"It will take at least three to six months to rebuild their houses. At this time, they need 'healthy' temporary shelters. We have developed models of shelters for this specific purpose," center director Sarwidi told The Jakarta Post.
Head of the center's shelter development program Yulianto Prihatmaji, said it had also developed a model for a lavatory that does not need water to operate, making it ideal for refugee camps.
Measuring some 70 centimeters by 70 cms and some 180 cms high, the temporary lavatory is made out of plastic. Recycled paper bags would be used for feces. They would be disposed of by burying them under the ground and toilet paper would be used for cleaning the body.
"Lack of clean water, poor sanitation and unhealthy shelters are the main problems in many refugee camps. The shelter model that we have developed is an attempt to answer such problems," Yulianto said.
Developed in 2001, the knock-down shelter comes in two sizes -- measuring seven square meters and 12 sq. meters -- and weighing some 25 kilograms per unit, making them easy to carry.
"For day-to-day activities, the small one can accommodate up to six people and the big one, eight people. For sleeping, however, they can accommodate up to four people and six people respectively at the most," said Yulianto.
The production cost of one shelter is some Rp 100,000 (US$11) and a group of two to three people could assemble it in two hours. The center can produce up to 200 units of the shelters in a week.
Psychologically, Yulianto said, such shelters would suit the refugees as their walls were light-weight and would collapse in the event of aftershocks without harming the occupants.
However, as the center has limited funds, it welcomes the financial assistance of individuals or institutions who want to help Aceh's tsunami survivors
"We can also help by providing manuals that enable anyone wanting to help the refugees make a shelter of the same model on their own," Yulianto said.
Sarwidi said the center would send some 10 ready-to-assemble shelters to Meulaboh, as models, and a number of student volunteers from the university would soon follow.