By Francine Pickup, Deputy Country Director, UNDP Indonesia

Surrounded by two rivers, Sumber is one of 200 villages perched high on the fertile slopes of Mt Merapi, 8 kilometers from its crater, in Magelang, Central Java. The volcano is Indonesia’s most active, erupting every 2-3 years with larger ones every 10 to 15 years. The most recent volcanic eruption was in November 2010 and was followed in February 2011 by a cold lava flow. It caused significant damage to Sumber’s houses, agriculture and livestock. Ibu Tentrem recalls the evacuation in 2010. “The eruption was on Tuesday. We had no idea what to do. We evacuated to Banyu Biru village nearby and then we scattered to 20 different sites. I was separated from my husband and family.”

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