WAMENA (7 October 2019) - The Ministry of Social Affairs has prepared stimulant assistance for victims of the Wamena riots who lost their business premises following the September 23 riots.

"Stimulant assistance is provided through the Productive Economic Business Program (UEP) provided to residents through the Jayawijaya Regency Social Office," Director General of Social Protection and Security Harry Hikmat said after meeting with the Association of Sundanese Residents living in Wamena, Sunday.

The Director General said that assistance was channeled through banks in a non-cash manner after the Social Services Agency conducted an assessment of survivors who owned stalls or trading businesses that were sold out on fire.

"Our hope is that by providing stimulant assistance they can reopen businesses so that the pulse of the economy in Wamena is getting better," said the Director General.

He said, for the initial stage the UEP assistance was given for 100 packages totaling IDR 500 million. The Ministry of Social Affairs will add UEP assistance if the results of the assessment show an increase in the number of residents who must be assisted.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Sundanese Community Association in Wamena, Entis Sutisna (38) said he welcomed the Ministry of Social Affairs' efforts to provide assistance to residents who had lost their businesses.

"This assistance is very much expected because business kiosks are our only source of livelihood," said Entis.

He said the number of members of the association is 154 people. Of these, only six returned to West Java. The majority of Sundanese in Wamena are food traders and mechanics.

"When the riots occurred, there were two motorbike repair shops and houses belonging to members of the association were burnt," he said.

With the help of stimulants from the government, he continued, it would motivate residents to re-open businesses and divert residents' feelings of trauma by reoccupying themselves with work.

"I can't say anything, sir. We are all happy, relieved, and touched by the presence of the central government in Wamena, to give assistance," continued Entis, who has lived in Wamena for dozens of years as a Development Consultant.


Wamena Rise

Meanwhile, based on monitoring to this day (Monday, 7/10) the situation in Wamena is starting to be conducive as the emergency response period stipulated by the Jayawijaya Regency Government ends.

A number of shops on the protocol streets of Wamena have started to open, such as building materials shops, staple food shops, food stalls, and souvenir shops. Schools are also starting to get crowded with children because today is the first day of school.

"Today the Ministry of Social Affairs also provides Psychosocial Support Services to teachers in Wamena. Providing psychosocial support to teachers is very important because they experience trauma while at the same time they have to teach and help children recover from trauma from the riots," explained the Director General .

He further explained that the provision of stimulant assistance and LDP services was part of meeting the basic needs of post-riot survivors.

"The government hoped for Wamena to rise again, the residents can return to their activities in peace, the people live side by side in harmony," said Harry.

 
Acting Head of Public Relations Bureau of the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs

Sonny W. Manalu