The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Tue, 07/19/2011
A fluctuating number of refugees from the recently erupting Mt. Lokon, at shelters in and around Tomohon, North Sulawesi, has caused several mismatches in amounts of aid supplied, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reports.
The Mt. Lokon eruptions began last week and have shown no sign of stopping yet.
“For example, according to our data, there are 1,000 refugees at Manado State University [Unima], but after the army ran a check, it turned out there were only 600,” agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said Tuesday.
He added that such problems related to “ever-changing data” had “given rise to new distribution routes for public kitchens at several locations”.
Although it was fluctuating, the number of refugees “tended to increase,” he said.
“According to our latest data, there are 5,359 refugees who are receiving food. These refugees are spread out across 24 locations,” he said.
Last week, the number of refugees neared 5,000.
Mt. Lokon refugees face education, sanitation problems.
Mt. Lokon refugees are facing at least four basic problems at refugee camps spread out across Tomohon, North Sulawesi, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported.
“The problems faced by refugees include food distribution, emergency educational services at camps, sanitation and health,” agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said Tuesday.
Volcanic activity on Mt. Lokon has continued after it initially erupted violently on Sunday. As a result, numbers of refugees from the area have been steadily increasing.
Sutopo added that regional working unit personnel (SKPD) were divided into “clusters” responsible for certain issues.
“There are clusters for health, public kitchens, education, electricity, infrastructure etc, headed by the respective SKPD chiefs,” he said.
di 19 jul 2011 - 3:46