Arya News - Elephants have joined the efforts to clear debris left by cyclone-induced floods and landslides in Indonesia.
Elephants have joined the efforts to clear debris left by cyclone-induced floods and landslides in Indonesia.
The death toll reached 950 on Monday, with 274 people still missing, according to official data. In Thailand and Malaysia, about 200 people were killed as a result of the storms.
Four domesticated Sumatran elephants were deployed to help clear debris as senior government officials said Sumatra Island will require 51.82 trillion rupiah (£2.33bn) in reconstruction and recovery funds.
Officials expect more than £2bn to be needed for the rescue and recovery effort following the natural disaster - Shutterstock
Suharyanto, the head of Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency, said funds needed across the three provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra may still increase as the agency continues to calculate how much damage has been done.
Among the three provinces affected, Aceh needs the most funds, amounting to a total of 25.41 trillion rupiah, Suharyanto said at a cabinet meeting led by president Prabowo Subianto in Aceh province late on Sunday.
North Sumatra and West Sumatra will require 12.88 trillion and 13.52 trillion rupiah, respectively, he added.
Elephants pick their way through trees flattened by the flooding in Pidie Jaya, Indonesia - AFP
The reconstruction process will soon begin in some areas of North Sumatra and West Sumatra, which have recovered relatively well, he said.
Suharyanto said: “Areas that are already in better condition can start the reconstruction process.
“We will relocate people living in evacuation centres to temporary houses. In the next phase, they will be relocated into permanent houses, built by the housing ministry.”
The temporary houses are 40 square-metre plywood structures built by the government for people affected by natural disasters.
A devastating landslide swept away homes as the flooding hit - AFP
President Subianto said his calculations for the initial estimated recovery costs were “similar” to officials’, although he did not confirm whether he would approve the spending.
He said conditions in some areas remained serious, with rice fields, dams and a large number of houses especially affected, and that the distribution of medication and clothes to residents must be a priority.
Mr Subianto added: “The point is we have the capacity and we will do it meticulously and do our best to manage it. The local leaders reported that there are quite a number of houses that we must help rebuild. In some places, there are still challenges.”
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