More Than 150 Houses under Construction in Earthquake-Affected Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Local volunteers assist HFH Indonesia’s rebuilding efforts in three villages, Sribit, Klegen and Klaras
YOGYAKARTA, 8th August 2006: Reconstruction is underway in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta on the island of Java after the devastating May 2006 earthquake.
Volunteers from the area have been contributing their labor.
Earthquake-resistant steel frame construction: Habitat volunteers from Jakarta Indonesian Korean School work together on a steel frame for the rebuilding of a home in Bantul affected by the Yogyakarta earthquake
A roof over our heads: eager hands of a Habitat volunteer team from Jakarta Indonesian Korean School make light work of the construction of roof components for a homepartner in Bantul who survived the 6.3-magniture earthquake in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Building a firm foundation: As part of Habitat’s rebuilding program in Bantul, Yogyakarta, Habitat volunteers from Jakarta Indonesia Korean School worked alongside Habitat homepartners to pour concrete, a first step to building a new home.
And international and local donors have boosted Habitat for Humanity Indonesia’s rebuilding efforts with US 1 million in funds to date.
A total of 150 houses are currently under construction in the worst-affected Bantul district. More than 3,000 lives were reportedly lost in Bantul after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake ripped through Yogyakarta and the surrounding region on 27th May. In Sribit and Klegen villages, Bantul, 134 houses are being built, while 16 homes are under construction in Klaras village in the same district.
A steady stream of volunteers from the area has been assisting the Habitat Resource Center in Yogyakarta in the reconstruction efforts. Among them was a team of 12 volunteers from the Jakarta International Korean School. They worked on two houses in Sribit village, making steel frames and pouring concrete for lower beams, among other things.
Under the Adopt-A-Community project, telecommunications group Nokia showed its support by donating US100,000 to rebuild homes in Klaras village. In addition, more than 40 Nokia volunteers have visited the community to help with the rebuilding.
Mobile units containing construction tools such as steel cutter, shovel, pick axe and pliers are lent to the villages, making the volunteers and villagers’ job easier.
The homes being built in Bantul are initial core houses with reinforced concrete structural frames. Walls made of bricks and wood reduce material weight compared to an all-brick wall and allow for easier modification if the homepartners wish to extend their core houses. HFH Indonesia plans to build 1,000 initial core houses in a year. Each house is estimated to cost US1,700.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, HFH Indonesia went into the communities to assess the extent of the damage and understand the needs. The early days of the disaster saw Habitat and local volunteers teaming up to clear debris and salvage materials for reconstruction.
In late June 2006, Habitat and experts from local universities conducted a two-day field workshop for homepartners in Bantul. It was Habitat’s first community learning program that taught more than 25 participants about construction technology for earthquake-resistant homes. Homepartners from Sribit and Klegen villages also shared their views on home designs.