Where's all the money they pledged, asks Bali administration<\/p>\n
Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali<\/p>\n
The Bali administration questioned on Thursday the whereabouts of
\nthe financial assistance promised by various parties, including
\nthe central government, foreign countries and international
\nfunding organizations, to help the province recover following the
\nOct. 12 bomb outrages in Kuta.<\/p>\n
Administration spokesman I Gede Nurjaya said on Thursday that
\nafter the bombing many parties had expressed their sympathy and
\nsupport, and promised to extend assistance to help the province
\nrevive its economy, which in the immediate aftermath of the
\nbombings was expected to virtually collapse.<\/p>\n
Bali was one of the world's most popular tourist destinations
\nbefore the bomb attacks, which killed over 190 people, shattered
\nits image as a safe holiday destination.<\/p>\n
The government has predicted that 800,000 people would lose
\ntheir jobs as a result of the slump in the province's tourist
\nindustry.<\/p>\n
\"The central government, international donor organizations and
\nsome foreign countries promised to help us but so far we haven't
\nreceived a penny,\" Nurjaya complained.<\/p>\n
\"Today, we (the governor and his officials) are supposed to
\ndiscussing our draft plan for Bali's recovery, but there's
\nnothing we can do without the funds they promised. There are
\nplans, both emergency, short and long term, that need to be put
\nin place in order to rebuild the province's economy,\" Nurjaya
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
As part of its emergency plan, the administration is to focus
\non helping the bomb victims, providing education allowances for
\ntheir children, repairing damaged buildings and improving
\nsecurity.<\/p>\n
One-and-a-half months after the bombings, economic hardship
\nhas started to hit those who rely on tourism and its supporting
\nsectors. The current problems Bali is facing were foreseeable due
\nto the significant drop in the number of foreign tourists as a
\nresult of the attacks.<\/p>\n
Countries like the U.S., Australia, Britain and several
\nEuropean countries have yet to lift their travel warnings
\nadvising their nationals against visiting Bali.<\/p>\n
Long before the bombing, Bali had received Rp 483 billion from
\nthe central government through the Ministry of Resettlement and
\nRegional Infrastructure, and US$7 million from the World Bank and
\nthe Asian Development Bank for development programs.<\/p>\n
The local administration has also raised Rp 3.5 billion from
\nvarious sources, including local companies, and has disbursed
\nsome Rp 355 million to the 13 hospitals that have been treating
\nthe bomb victims, as well as other emergency units.<\/p>\n
\"The remaining funds will be allocated for improving the
\nsecurity infrastructure in Bali,\" Nurjaya said.<\/p>\n
The donations excluded Rp 1 billion received by Badung regency
\nfrom the Ministry of Social Affairs to pay compensation to the
\nrelatives of the victims, the injured and the owners of
\nproperties that were damaged in the bombings.<\/p>\n
The Kuta tourist resort is located in Badung regency.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wheres-all-the-money-they-pledged-asks-bali-administration-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }