Deadline nears for dispensing aid<\/p>\n
WAMENA, Irian Jaya: Hundreds of millions of rupiah in
\nscholarships and educational assistance for Jayawijaya might go
\ndown the drain if the regency fails to disburse it in the next
\nthree days.<\/p>\n
The head of the national education office for Jayawijaya
\nregency, George de Fretes, revealed on Thursday that Rp 250.46
\nmillion of total Rp 1.1 billion allocated for the regency had yet
\nto be disbursed.<\/p>\n
The funds are to provide scholarships for children in the
\nregency and assistance for operational costs of schools.<\/p>\n
\"The deadline, as indicated by the central government, is Dec.
\n20,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"If the funds are not disbursed by then it would have to be
\nreturned to Jakarta.\"<\/p>\n
Natural elements seem to be the main obstacle to distribution
\nof the aid.<\/p>\n
George explained that many of the children and schools due to
\nreceive the assistance live in extremely remote areas and cannot
\nreach Wamena, or it would be too expensive to deliver it to them.<\/p>\n
He pointed to students living in Oksibil district who needed
\nto take two airplane trips to reach Wamena.<\/p>\n
George said that his office was working together with several
\nfoundations to disburse the funds but the vastness of the
\nterritory and difficulty of terrain meant that not all could be
\nreached.<\/p>\n
\"We hope there can be a special policy introduced under such
\ncircumstances so the funds will not have to be returned to
\nJakarta and can still be used for the children here.\"<\/p>\n
A total of 9,702 students, from elementary to high school
\nlevels, have been selected to receive the scholarships.(mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/deadline-nears-for-dispensing-aid-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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