JAKARTA (UCAN): Caritas Indonesia (Karina) announced that it will build new homes for survivors of Cyclone Seroja which triggered floods and mudslides that killed more than 180 people in East Nusa Tenggara province on April 5, Easter Sunday, killing 181 people, injuring many more and damaging thousands of homes. Officials say 47 people are still missing following the disaster.
“The government will officially end its humanitarian aid efforts on May 5, so Karina will work with benefactors and Caritas in Larantuka Diocese to continue assistance, including the construction of homes,” Father Fredy Rante Taruk, Karina’s director, explained.
He said Karina and Caritas in the Diocese of Larantuka will also provide cash assistance as well as educational and psycho-social services.
“The cash will help them to buy household items, house reconstruction tools and other basic needs,” Father Taruk said. He added that Karina will give up to 1,000,000 rupiah ($534) a family and help fund, together with other benefactors, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes that will last well into next year.
Father Taruk said most of the new homes to be built will be on the islands of Adonara and Lembata, the two worst-hit areas. Of the 181 people who died, 72 were from Adonara, and 67 in Lembata.
The Karina director did not reveal how many homes the organisation would build, only saying the main priority was to help those who lost their homes or those whose houses were badly damaged.
Meanwhile, the Sant’Egidio Community in Indonesia has been helping victims in Malaka district since the cyclone struck.
“We are still distributing foodstuffs and other items to replace what was lost in the flooding,” Eveline Winarko, the Sant’Egidio coordinator, said.
