Accounting for the help that is still needed while maximising the local potential
Sari's report from 12 June 2006
The population of Bicak consists of 475 people living in 130 households. In Ngunut there are 345 people living in 81 households.
Nearly every house in Bicak and Ngunut are in ruins. The few houses that are still standing need demolishing because they are unstable and risk collapsing.
Now that immediate emergency relief is not critical, the people of Bicak and Ngunut say that they are keen to begin rebuilding the local economy.
Now that immediate emergency relief is not critical, the people of Bicak and Ngunut say that they are keen to begin rebuilding the local economy.
Most of the population work as farm labourers. Some work as construction workers on building sites. In the dry season, which it is now, almost everyone is a brick maker.
However, due to the quake, brick making is on hold. The clay and firewood for the kiln to make the bricks must be purchased, yet many people have spent the money they normally invest to make the first batch of bricks for the season on emergency supplies after the earthquake.
We are looking into a proposal to provide small “seeding” loans to the brick makers of Bicak and Ngunut so that they can begin the first batch of bricks for the season as usual. Restoring the brick making industry will not only help the economy recover, it will also provide much needed bricks to rebuild the homes. Of course, we will need funds to put this plan into action.
At present, we are working with the community to do the costing to determine the upfront investment required to begin production and the number of bricks needed to rebuild each home. We are also looking at the feasibility of alternative building materials, such as the woven bamboo walls called “gedek”.
However, before homes can be rebuilt, the debris from the quake needs to be cleared. For this, the community needs equipment for demolishing unstable walls left behind by the quake, like wrecking bars or crowbars, sledges and hammers, wire and bolt cutters and shovels. At present, people are using bamboo poles, which are effective, but not efficient for this task.
We are looking into a proposal to provide small “seeding” loans to the brick makers of Bicak and Ngunut so that they can begin the first batch of bricks for the season as usual. Restoring the brick making industry will not only help the economy recover, it will also provide much needed bricks to rebuild the homes. Of course, we will need funds to put this plan into action.
At present, we are working with the community to do the costing to determine the upfront investment required to begin production and the number of bricks needed to rebuild each home. We are also looking at the feasibility of alternative building materials, such as the woven bamboo walls called “gedek”.
However, before homes can be rebuilt, the debris from the quake needs to be cleared. For this, the community needs equipment for demolishing unstable walls left behind by the quake, like wrecking bars or crowbars, sledges and hammers, wire and bolt cutters and shovels. At present, people are using bamboo poles, which are effective, but not efficient for this task.
Cleaning up the debris that was once a home.
Demolishing buildings left unstable and unsafe.
posted by Anonymous at Friday, July 14, 2006
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