Head of the Center for Natural Disaster Studies (PSBA), Prof. Dr. Junun Sartohadi, criticized the plan for relocation of victims of the Merapi eruption by the government. He considered the plan was not based on the disaster areas maps, but only on the basis of whether the residential areas are dangerous or not. According to Junun, the decision to do the relocation of Merapi requires joint study between local governments as decision makers with relevant agencies, such as BNPB, PVMBG-BPPTK, and academic institutions.
The reason is that according to PSBA team’s survey results, about 91 percent of the IDPs choose to return to live in the vicinity of the Merapi slopes. "Only 9 percent have the chance to relocate," said Junun in the National Seminar on Natural-disaster Green Recovery, organized by the UGM Students Family of Civil Engineering, Saturday (23/4), at the Graduate School.
Junun argues that the emotional bond between the people of Merapi to the neighborhood is quite close. It can be seen from the statement of most members of society who do not want to move to other regions and instead want to rebuild the old residential location that has been damaged by the disaster.
Junun mentions that there are 2682 families getting affected by the eruption and 46 families affected by Merapi’s lava. They come from 49 villages in two sub-districts. Therefore, Junun proposed that the relocation area is not too far from the society’s original place so that they do not get separated from their original culture. Furthermore, proper designs must be created in a minimum of 36 square meters with an area of 150 square meters and building models that suit the community. "The temporary housing’s location could be used for the relocation sites," he added.
The determination of relocation sites for them should be based on three criteria, namely hazard area that must not be inhabited again, the area that could be inhabited again, and the safe area. Junun added the success or failure of post-disaster recovery program depended on the capacity to meet the needs of survivors, including the need for culture. Therefore, land ownership is an important issue to be explored. "Public participation is one key to the success of the relocation by taking into account the factors of behavioral difference, social life, economy and culture should also be considered," he concluded.
Meanwhile, Expert Staff to the Minister of Public Works, Development Integration Division, Ir.Ismanto, M.Sc. said the Ministry of Public Works will rebuild 39 damaged bridges in the four districts in Yogyakarta and Central Java, consisting of 13 bridges in Sleman district, 11 in Magelang, 12 in Boyolali, and 3 bridges in Klaten.