Most Irian Jaya relief funds spent on transportation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government has spent Rp 200 billion (US$46
\nmillion) on relief operations to drought-hit Irian Jaya, State
\nMinister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita
\nsaid yesterday.<\/p>\n
However, 80 percent of the funds had to be allocated for
\ntransportation expenses due to the geographical conditions of the
\naffected regencies, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Transportation costs are expensive because we have to use
\nplanes to send (aid) there, and then also hire local people to
\ncarry it to affected locations,\" Ginandjar said after meeting
\nwith President Soeharto at the latter's residence on Jl. Cendana,
\nCentral Jakarta.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, Soeharto was accompanied by his eldest
\ndaughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana.<\/p>\n
\"According to data from local authorities and from the
\nministry of social services, about 150,000 people face a shortage
\nof food,\" Ginandjar said.<\/p>\n
Secretary of Irian Jaya's disaster task force Sam Leimena said
\nWednesday that 554 people had died from drought-related disease,
\nincluding 447 in Jayawijaya regency. The figure is lower than
\npreviously reported in the media.<\/p>\n
\"The condition of the population has become more and more
\nworrying because of the food crisis and outbreaks of disease
\nduring the drought,\" Antara quoted Leimena as saying.<\/p>\n
The long drought has severely affected the harvest of sweet
\npotatoes, the local staple.<\/p>\n
\"The President asked me to pay special attention to the
\n(impact of) drought and famine disasters there,\" Ginandjar said.<\/p>\n
When asked about the President's health, Ginandjar said: \"He
\nappeared relaxed because he has started to recover from
\nexhaustion after his long overseas trip.\"<\/p>\n
\"As you can see, our meeting lasted one hour. And frankly
\nspeaking, during our conversation he talked more than I did,\" the
\nminister added.<\/p>\n
Although Soeharto is still resting, he continues to work from
\nhome, said Ginandjar.<\/p>\n
\"His rest is not just for daydreaming but for thinking and
\nworking to project our future problems,\" Ginandjar said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto decided Wednesday to attend the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) informal summit in Kuala Lumpur
\non Sunday and Monday.<\/p>\n
Hardiyanti, better known as Mbak Tutut, said yesterday that
\nher father should not go ahead with his planned trip.<\/p>\n
\"We, the whole family, want Bapak not to travel overseas at
\nthe present time,\" she said after a meeting of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"It is okay for him to attend state programs which are held in
\nthe city,\" she said. (prb\/imn\/aan)<\/p>",
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