Thousands of Sinabung Refugees Back To Villages

Jakarta, Feb 17 (Antara) - Thousands of refugees from the Mount Sinabung eruption returned back to their villages after the recommendation from the Volcanology and Geology Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG). "Some refugees who live within a radius of five kilometers were sent back to their residences," Chief of Non-Government Cooperation Section of Social Ministry, Subekti Haribawa in Kabanjahe, South Sumatra stated, when called from Jakarta on Monday. Subekti added that on the Monday morning, about 226 people or 88 families from Cimbung Village and 305 people or 101 families Ujung Payung Village were sent back to their residences. "This week, all the refugees will gradually return to their residences," he added. Subekti explained that 1,004 people or 289 families from Kungpinto Village and Kutambelin Villages were also sent back to their villages. Meanwhile, 1,992 people or 303 families from Sukandebi Village who were evacuated from Jambur Korpri also went back. Before returning back to their villages, the refugees cleaned up the residences and public facilities with the help of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), police and volunteers. Previously, 5,783 refugees from Batu Karang Village, Rimo kayu Village and Naman Village went back to their residences. The villagers were urged to obey the government recommendations and the prohibition on conducting activities within a radius of five kilometers.