Covering more than 15 hectares, with a total investment of more than 4.6 million USD, the resettlement area is being built in Hamlet 9, Ia Hiao commune. Construction crews are working quickly to complete the internal roads, the low-voltage electricity system, the water supply system, and other essential facilities such as a community cultural house and a kindergarten.
Local authorities have stepped up communications to help the residents understand the Party and State's policies. Images of flood-prone areas and the construction progress of the resettlement area as well as resettlement support policies are shown to local residents.
Ksor Tin is among the first residents of Chu Plah Jai hamlet to receive a new plot of land to build a home.
He said: “We come to see the land here, and it is really wonderful. It’s close to school and a football playing ground. The land on the hill is safer because we won’t have to flee from floods as we did in previous years. This place is much better than where we used to live. The State is supporting us, and the provincial authorities are building us new homes. We don't know what else to say except showing our thank.”
After two rounds of meetings, 67 households agreed to relocate to the new resettlement area. This is a positive sign, reflecting local residents’ confidence in the resettlement policy. Once all their questions had been answered, the households chose their preferred house designs, drew lots for their land plots and visited the resettlement area in person.
The family of Nay Chuc, from So Ma Long hamlet on the banks of the Ayun River, was delighted after drawing their plot. “My family lives by the riverbank, in an area prone to landslides. I was lucky to draw plot number 63, near the kindergarten. My child will enter the kindergarten this year. We are eagerly looking forward to moving there soon, especially as the rainy season is approaching.”
Before relocating people to their new homes, the commune launched a campaign entitled “Building new homes – A green space” at the resettlement area. The local authorities, representatives of mass organizations and local residents planted 250 tropical almond trees along the residential road.
R’O Thi, Deputy Head of the Economic Division of Ia Hiao commune, said the project would provide resettlement for around 180 households, among them 100 are expected to move to the new site this year. “Ia Hiao commune has done a good job of communicating with and encouraging people living in flood-prone areas to move to the resettlement area. So far, we have persuaded 100 households to relocate. We expect to continue encouraging others to relocate soon, in order to ensure the safety of their lives and their property.”
To carry out the State's resettlement policies, military units have helped residents transport parts of their old homes and belongings to the new ones. Fifty officers, commanders, and soldiers from Infantry Company 1, of the Thong Nhat Regional Defense Command (Gia Lai Provincial Military Command), have traveled to Ia Hiao commune to help residents dismantle their homes, move their belongings and rebuild houses at the new resettlement area.
A new residential area is taking shape day by day in Hamlet 9. Leaving behind homes that were frequently threatened by floodwaters, the people of Ia Hiao will soon have safer places to live and more stable lives.
