KENDARI (July 18, 2023) – Minister of Social Affairs inaugurated 26 house units for the fire victims of Puuwatu Landfill in Puuwatu District, Kendari City, South East Sulawesi Province.

The 80 fire victims were the Waste Heroes living in Puuwatu Landfill area in Kendari. Minister of Social Affairs said that the reports of fire victims in Puuwatu Landfill were not the first report that she received.

“That fire case is the third. At first, they asked for tents. But I said due to repeated fires, the house should’ve been renovated,” the Minister said while inaugurating the houses in Kendari on Tuesday, July 18.

Minister of Social Affairs stated that the assistance distributed today was the government’s response in helping to ease the Waste Heroes’ burden in Puuwatu Landfill. “The assistance is a stimulant. Those are the number of the victims. We adjust the assistance based on the number of victims,” she said.

The ex-mayor of Surabaya hopes that the beneficiaries did not consider the houses given as an object but as a representation to make a creation. Thus, they would always take care of and look for the houses.

“If the occupant doesn’t see the house only as an object, they could be productive, making creations from there. For example, the kids grow healthy. It leads to their welfare,” Risma said.

In line with the Minister’s statement, a social observer Imam Prasodjo, who also presents in the occasion emphasized the importance of seeing the house not only as a building.

“Previously, Minister Risma said that she hoped that those wouldn’t only be a house, but also a home. A house is only a building, but a home is a place to come home to,” Imam emphasized.

The interesting point to him was there would be organization, spirit of togetherness, they would be a responsive community and became a stimulant, not only a building. He thought that without organizing, the country would have difficulties growing.

Previously, 26 houses inhabited by 80 people in Puuwatu Landfills area in Kendari burnt out by the fire on Tuesday, June 9, 2022. The fire allegedly started in one of the houses where the inhabitant forgot to shut off the mosquito repellent.

The assistance distributed for building 26 houses for the fire victims in Kendari City is worth IDR 4,5 billion. In addition to houses, Ministry of Social Affairs also equipped the houses with assistance in the form of household utensils for each house.

The household utensil assistances given are mattress, pillow, bolster, bedsheet, electric fan, plastic chair and table, floor mat, kitchen utensils, silverware, dispensers, and galloons of water worth IDR 156 billion distributed by one of Ministry of Social Affairs’ Implementation Unit, which is “Meohai” Center in Kendari.

Meanwhile, the acting mayor of Kendari’s mayor, Asmawa Tosepu expresses his gratitude towards Ministry of Social Affairs for the attention of Kendari City people, mainly those who live in Puuwatu Landfill in the form of house building.

He stated that he would continue to distribute the assistance that has been started by Ministry of Social Affairs in the form of facilities and infrastructures in the area, such as roads and other supporting facilities.

“We certainly hope that beneficiaries of the stimulant assistance will be able to take care of and look after the prepared building,” he said.