Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi (ANTARA) - Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini has officially inaugurated 26 housing units worth Rp4.5 billion (approximately US$300,000) for victims of the fire incident at the Puuwatu Landfill Site (TPA) in Kendari City, Southeast Sulawesi Province.
In addition to the housing units, her ministry also provided social assistance in the form of household furniture for each of these houses.
"Furthermore, assistance worth Rp156 million (around US$10,400) was distributed, including mattresses, pillows, bolsters, sheets, fans, chairs, plastic tables, mats, kitchen utensils, cutlery, dispensers, and gallons," she stated on Tuesday.
She mentioned that the assistance was managed by the ministry's Technical Implementation Unit (UPT), specifically the Meohai Center in Kendari.
The 26 housing units will accommodate 80 people from the Puuwatu TPA area that was devastated by fire on June 6, 2022, she added.
Rismaharini emphasized that the assistance was an effort on her part to alleviate the burden on the waste heroes at the Puuwatu TPA.
Regarding additional assistance, she explained that her team has limited funds that also need to be distributed to other regions.
"There is no additional assistance. Our funds are limited, and we also need to allocate resources to other places. Many other areas in Indonesia also require support," she noted.
She expressed optimism that the beneficiaries would not perceive these houses merely as objects, but rather as a means to generate productivity.
"They can view these houses as a foundation for their work. For instance, children can grow and develop in a healthy environment. Eventually, they can achieve greater prosperity," Rismaharini remarked.
Meanwhile, Acting Mayor of Kendari City, Asmawa Tosepu, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Minister Rismaharini for their attention to the people of Kendari, particularly those affected by the Puuwatu TPA incident.
Tosepu stated that his team would also continue providing assistance in the form of supporting facilities and infrastructure in the area, such as roads.
"We hope that the recipients of this stimulus can take care of and maintain the buildings that have been built (for them)," he said.
Minister officiates housing units for fire incident victims in Kendari SE Sulawesi
Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini (left) hands over a house key to one of the victims of the fire incident at the Puuwati Landfill Site (TPA) in Kendari City, Southeast Sulawesi, on July 18, 2023. (ANTARA/La Ode Muh Deden S/rst)
