Race against time to move quake victims from tents

Civil Protection Department have set their goal

 ROME -- The reconstruction of homes and buildings in parts of central Italy that were devastated last month by an earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale, is forecast to take as long as seven years, civil protection sources said Friday.

 The number of displaced people made homeless by the earth tremors peaked at 4, 807 at the startof September but as many as 3, 027 still find themselves homeless, camping out under tents. However, the Civil Protection department have set an ambitious target -- to dismantle all such tents and shelters before October arrives.

 The idea is to systematically rehouse the men, women and children into various hotels and public buildings, awaiting a more stable solution.

 In the Marche region, 892 people are spread between 11 shelters and two tent zones, with the 321 others in hotels. In Umbria, 555 find themselves in homeless shelters, 22 tent zones and 12 communal structures.

 In Abruzzo, 274 people are spread across five tent zones, whilst 90 others are rehoused in the ‘new town’ constructed following the 2009 earthquake in L’Aquila.

 Four camps have already been dismantled, as the Civil Protection department proceeds towards the destruction of the Aquasanta Terme camp, plus the close by Pretare camp.

 Of the 785 homeless from the Lazio region, almost half have requested financial aid. The State shall provide 200 euros a month per person, maximum 600 euros per nuclear family and 300 euros for those who live alone.

 The houses to be rebuilt range from 60 – 80 metres squared, “adapted to any type of climate condition and suitable for the disabled.” Per square metre, the cost stands at 1, 075 euros plus VAT.

 Nine thousand inspections have been carried out of various public and private buildings. However, the tragic legacy of the earthquake still lives on in the fear of the families left homeless, who admit they are scared to return to living under a roof following the nightmare they have survived.

 sw