Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed decree No 16 of 2011 on the reconstruction and rehabilitation coordination team of the Yogyakarta and Central Java Mt Merapi post eruption disaster on July 5, 2011, a spokesman said.

Head of the information data and public relations center of the Disaster Mitigation National Agency (BNPB) Dr Sutopo Purwo Nugroho in a press release here on Saturday said that the impact of the eruption and cold lava of Mt. Merapi in Central Java province and Yogyakarta had caused serious damage and losses, with the biggest in the October-November 2010 period reaching Rp3.56 trillion.

The restoration, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the impact of the Merapi eruption would cost Rp1.35 trillion, except for those as the result of cold lava currently still threatening Magelang and Sleman, estimated at more than Rp1.69 trillion, he said.

An acceleration of rehabilitation and construction of the area damaged by the eruption of Mt Merapi, coordination and synchronization would be necessary for smooth, directed, transparent, accountable and integrated efforts and support from all parties concerned.

"It is for that reason that the President signed the Presidential Decree No 16 of 2011 on July 5, 2011," he said.

The team is directly under the responsibility of the President. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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