Kediri, E Java (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked Mount Kelud eruption refugees to wait for conditions to be safe before they return to their homes. "We will continue to work and see the developments of Mount Kelud. If it is already declared safe, you can return to your respective houses. If it is not yet safe, please be patient and for the time being, stay in a place like this," the President stated when he visited the evacuees in Segaran village, Wates subdistrict, Kediri District, East Java, on Monday evening. Accompanied by First Lady Mrs Ani Yudhoyono and East Java Governor Soekarwo, the President reminded the refugees that they should not return home if the condition is not yet officially declared as safe as it will be very dangerous. "Recently, in Sinabung, North Sumatra, some villagers returned home even when Mount Sinabung condition was not yet declared safe. The consequence is that the lives of several residents could not be saved," the President noted. He added that the government wanted all evacuees to be secured until the condition of Mount Kelud returns to normal, after which, the areas that were affected can also be cleaned soon. Yudhoyono also stated that the refugee camps should continue to be managed well. "Assistance in the form of food, drink, health and clean water is also provided," he remarked. Earlier, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono inspected Mt. Kelud's eruption evacuation center at An-Nuur Mosque in Kediri. "Together with the First Lady, I would only want to assure that everything has been handled well," he stated with the evacuees around him. After being assured that everything was alright he expressed gratitude for all the services that have been provided for the evacuees. "Thank you again that everything has been okay," he reiterated. The evacuation center at the mosque accommodates around 3 thousand people coming from villages within a radius of 7 to 10 kilometers from the mountain. At noon, however, the number dropped to only one thousand, mostly senior citizens, as the younger ones went about doing their daily activities. Mt. Kelud, located on the border of three districts namely Kediri, Blitar and Malang, erupted at around 10.50 p.m. on Thursday spewing ash and gravel. (*)


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