Govt to Build Makeshift Shelters for Wasior Flood Victims

MANOKWARI, KOMPAS.com - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said  the government would construct temporary shelters for victims  of the recent flash flood in  Wasior, West Papua.       "The government has decided to build temporary shelters for them," the President told the press at Rendani airport, Manokwari, West Papua, Friday.        The head of state made the statement after making a two-day visit in Manokwari and Wasior to get first-hand information on the conditions of the flood victims and the damage caused by the flash floods.       The temporary shelters to be constructed jointly by military and police personnel as well as local inhabitants must be  better than the emergency camps where they were currently staying, he said. The temporary shelters should  meet the minimum sanitary standards and have adequate clean water supply sources, he said.

The President had earlier spoken about  the plan to build the temporary shelters when he met Wasior flood refugees in Manokwari.  According to data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, at least 4,711 people, who had become victims of the flash flood in Wasior are currently being accommodated in Manokwari, around 240 km from Wasior. Some  2,554 others found shelters at their own initiative  or moved in with relatives.

Around 2,652 victims had remained in Wasior but had been evacuated to  emergency camps while 355 others had moved  to Nabire.  The Wasior flash flood which struck on October 3 and 4, had reportedly killed at least 124 people, and left 123 others still missing.

Wasior town in Teluk Wondama district, West Papua Province, was covered with mud, logs and rocks following the flood. The town badly needs heavy-duty  equipment for evacuation and cleaning operations.        The flash flood  has not only caused lots of families to lose  loved ones but also  injury to 853 people and forced 4,625 others to move to safer places.