Plywood Houses for the Yogyanese: Central Java, Indonesia

It seems that much has been learnt from the lackadaisical efforts to construct houses for those who suffered losing their mode of shelter in Aceh. In Yogyakarta the pace and effort is more proficient.

Yogyanese victims of the earthquake will soon be able to live in temporary accommodation while waiting for the permanent homes the government has promised them. There is one catch though. Residents will construct the simple houses on their own. Under a plan the local government administration will distribute building materials and Rp150,000 cash to each family whose house was destroyed or badly damaged.

Naturally the homeless victims of the devastating earthquake are ecstatic about this but are a tad suss about the composition of the materials supplied - plywood.

Next week the administration is expected to distribute enough building materials for 7,200 houses each with bamboo pillars, plywood walls and a tarpaulin roof. The houses which measure 2.4 meters wide and 4.8 meters long are estimated to cost Rp840,000 each. Demonstrations are being conducted for those less knowledgeable in erecting establishments.

In the worst hit area of Bantul volunteers have erected several simple bamboo houses but many survivors are still living in makeshift shelters. So a nice flimsy plywood shelter would definitely be a mansion in comparison.