Govt allocates Rp 204b for drought-hit areas<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government will allocate more than Rp 204
\nbillion (US$25.5 million) in the next two and a half months to
\nhelp restore food subsistence and develop the three drought-hit
\nregencies in Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar
\nKartasasmita said here yesterday that the funds are part of the
\ntotal Rp 262 billion specially allocated for restoring the
\ncountry's eastern most province, in which 673 people have died
\ndue to drought-related illnesses.<\/p>\n
He told reporters after meeting with President Soeharto at his
\nresidence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta, yesterday that it was
\npart of a government program to handle the effects of this year's
\ndrought and labor problems.<\/p>\n
\"This crash program started last December and will run until
\nthe end of March,\" Ginandjar said.<\/p>\n
The program includes efforts to provide food to the worst-hit
\nregencies, maintain food sustainability, create productive
\nemployment and develop remote villages.<\/p>\n
At least three Irian Jaya regencies -- Jayawijaya, Puncak
\nJaya, and Merauke -- have been affected by drought believed to
\nhave been aggravated by the El Nino weather phenomenon.<\/p>\n
As many as 430 people died from drought-related illnesses in
\nJayawijaya, 24 in Puncak Jaya, and 82 in Merauke. In Mimika
\nregency, at least 137 also reportedly died of malaria.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar warned that the drought in the province, which has
\ndestroyed agricultural land and stopped this year's yam
\ncultivation, could last until June.<\/p>\n
He said 142,773 people in the regencies of Jayawijaya, Puncak
\nJaya, and Merauke, or 18.2 percent of the total population of
\n785,740 in the three regencies, were under the imminent threat of
\nfood shortages.<\/p>\n
\"The latest data from the Ministry of Social Affairs office in
\nthe province put the number at 143,604 people, plus those
\nsuffering the same plight in Mimika,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar said most of the budget from the government's crash
\nprogram would go toward paying for transportation.<\/p>\n
He said Rp 224.350 billion, or more than 85 percent of the
\nbudget, was needed to send supplies, aid and equipment to the
\nmountainous jungle region.<\/p>\n
Most of the drought-hit villages are located in remote and
\nrugged terrain which makes the transportation of supplies
\nextremely difficult.<\/p>\n
Widespread forest fires in the province late last year caused
\na thick haze which also hampered aid efforts.<\/p>\n
Irian Jaya is 3,000 kilometers east of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
In December alone, the funds spent for relied operations and
\ntransportation costs reached Rp 57.9 billion. (prb\/aan)<\/p>",
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