The head of BNPB, Suharyanto, said that residents in the affected area are still highly dependent on government support because volcanic activity has not fully subsided.
"They are still in emergency response. Just as we were about to rest, the volcano erupted again. Thus, the central government is still covering the basic needs of these 8,000 people," he conveyed in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He noted that most of the evacuees are currently occupying temporary housing prepared by BNPB in collaboration with the local government, ministries, and agencies.
In the near future, the government will begin building permanent housing as a further stage of recovery, he continued.
"They live in temporary housing. Soon, we will relocate them to permanent housing and start mapping their socio-economic issues," Suharyanto pointed out.
His agency confirmed that the prolonged state of emergency has prevented villagers around Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki from returning to their farms.
Major agricultural commodities such as cocoa, cashews, and horticultural crops have reportedly failed due to the impact of the eruption and prolonged volcanic ash exposure over the past year.
"Forget about farming, they are still struggling to eat and drink. Therefore, all necessities such as food, clean water, and shelter are still being covered by the government," Suharyanto remarked.
Therefore, he stated that disaster management in East Flores will serve as a prototype for cross-sectoral collaboration in post-disaster socio-economic recovery efforts, including with the Acceleration of Poverty Alleviation Agency.
"For example, the victims of the Mount Semeru eruption are now thriving beyond their pre-disaster lives. That is the goal. It is not merely about returning their normal condition but also improving their lives after the disaster," he disclosed.
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Translator: M. Riezko Bima Elko Prasetyo, Resinta Sulistiyanda
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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