BULAKSUMUR (KU) – Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) will prepare temporary houses for survivors of the eruptions of Mt. Merapi. Those will be targeted for people whose houses are badly destroyed. UGM will initiate the project by building 87 houses for IDPs from Kinahrejo hamlet. The location of the temporary houses is the Purwomartani area of Sleman regency. “This temporary model is one solution considering that eruptions have not receded. Even if they have, it's not certain whether the people are able to inhabit their house back," said UGM architect, Ir. Ikaputra, M.Eng., Ph.D., on Monday (15/11).
He said that the size of area required for the temporary houses is 1.5 ha for 87 families. Each will occupy an area measuring 150 m2. The house will be made of wood or bamboo, provided with a yard to support farm and agricultural needs. “The house will measure 18 m2, the rest of the land will be used for cage and farm as more than half of the IDPs have cattles. They can live there and feed the cattles while waiting for their houses to be re-constructed,” he said.
To support the IDP activity while in the temporary house, UGM will involve teams from several faculties, such as Faculty of Forestry, Animal Science, Veterinary Medicine, Economics and Business, and Cultural Sciences, to give training and empowerment for the IDPs. “There will be cattle barns, biogas processing, and other economic activities," he said.
The construction of 87 temporary houses costs 783 million for bamboo house and 1,56 billion for wood house. “We estimate that one bamboo house costs 9 million rupiah while wood house 18 million,” he explained.
Ikaputra said that the plan was being proposed to the regional and provincial governments for follow-up. UGM continues to coordinate with the Government related to the policy. “We will make the houses as soon as possible as they are more decent to live in,” he said.
Ikaputra said that it is not easy to relocate IDPs from their initial houses. Wise policy is needed to deal with the people who have lived many years in the place which has now turned into a danger zone. Temporary house is one solution for IDPs who cannot live in their old house any longer.