Aid for Damaged Houses to be Realized Next Week

Funding assistance from the central government for damaged houses affected by the Cianjur earthquake will be realized next week. The district government has set up a number of mechanisms for disbursing aid for survivors.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

A man cleans the rubble at his house due to an earthquake in Cirumput Village, Cugenang District, Cianjur Regency, West Java, Thursday (1/12/2022).

CIANJUR, KOMPAS — The regency administration of Cianjur, West Java, has set the target to realize central government aid for quake-stricken houses on Monday (5/12/2022). The administration is preparing several mechanisms for the disbursement of the aid to survivors.

As of Thursday afternoon (1/12), a survey by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) recorded the number of houses damaged by the earthquake at 24,107 units. Of the total, 5,631 were severely ravaged, 7,273 moderately damaged and 11,203 slightly harmed.

“I signed the SK [decision letter] and I promptly proposed it to the BNPB, which passed it on to the Finance Ministry. It can be realized on Monday, hopefully,” said Cianjur regent Herman Suherman.

The number of damaged houses is not yet final as data recording continues. The amount of aid is provided according to the extent of damage. For slightly damaged houses the aid is Rp 10 million (US$649.44), moderately damaged houses Rp 25 million and severely damaged houses Rp 50 million. The aid for quake-stricken houses is supplied by the central government.

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> Data Collection Begins for Damaged Houses

Residents with slightly and moderately damaged houses receive money. Meanwhile, the disbursement of aid to severely damaged houses has two mechanisms.

For residents who are better off, the government will provide money worth Rp 50 million as a stimulant to build their houses. For survivors with low income, livable and quake-proof type-36 houses will be built.

The regency administration is also studying a plan for the relocation of residents whose areas are devastated. Based on the plan, those who will be relocated come from Sarampad, Cijedil and Cicadas, West Java. Three places are proposed as relocation areas: the districts of Cilaku and Mande, West Java, and Pacet, East Java. The area in Cilaku, Sirnagalih village to be exact, covers 2.5 hectares (ha), in Mande 4 ha and Pacet 10 ha.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Dozens of residents filled out a data collection form for prospective recipients of earthquake-resistant housing rehabilitation assistance for earthquake victims in Mangunkerta Village, Gintung District, Cianjur Regency, West Java, Thursday (1/12/2022).

Home Minister’s appeal

Home Minister Tito Karnavian has issued a Circular, titled “Financial Aid to the Cianjur Regency Administration for the Management of Disaster-Stricken Communities”. Governors, regents and mayors are expected to provide financial aid for the Cianjur regency administration from their regional budgets in accordance with regional financial capacities.

It was contained in the Circular No.900.1.1/8479/SJ issued by Home Minister Tito Karnavian on Monday (28/11/2022). The circular was addressed to all governors, regents and mayors throughout Indonesia.

In the meantime, the Social Affairs Ministry supplies aid for earthquake survivors in Cianjur in the form of among others basic necessities, mattresses, clothes, tents and portable toilets. Communal kitchens have also been set up in 23 spots.

“In one day, [communal kitchens] can supply 82,201 packages of ready-to-eat food. From the first day of operation until 30 November 2022, the Social Affairs Ministry already supplied 561,915 packages of ready-to-eat food for the people of Cianjur,” said Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini on Wednesday (30/11/2022).]

Also read:

> More Evacuees, Not Enough Tents

> Earthquake Zone and Earthquake Resistant Houses

The Social Affairs Ministry also provides psychosocial service in nine spots and sends medical teams to evacuation-command posts. Besides, wheelchairs for disabled people and old-age residents are also made available.

In a number of evacuation-command posts, decent clothing for quake survivors is piling up and unused. Evacuees reveal that at present they need more food and aid for house repair.

Until the eleventh day after the Cianjur earthquake, 329 deaths were recorded and a search went on for 11 people. A total of 595 survivors were severely injured and 59 of them were still under hospital treatment. As many as 14,414 evacuees were scattered over 492 locations. (IKI/ERK/Z09/RTG/DEA/SKA)

This article was translated by Aris Prawira.