20 infants die of malnutrition

20 infants die of malnutrition

PADANG, West Sumatra: At least 20 infants aged under five have
died of malnutrition in the past three months, an irony to the
fact that the province has long enjoyed a surplus in rice output.

Inspector General of Development Fuad Rasyid told local
officials during his recent visit here that he could hardly
believe the high death toll of malnourished children, second only
to West Java.

"Being a West Sumatra native, I'm very concerned about this
contradiction. I will verify the report (on malnutrition) myself,
whether it is true or not," Fuad said as quoted by Antara on
Monday.

The province notches an average 300,000 tons of rice annually,
according to the head of the provincial logistics office, Muslim
AK.

Muslim said his office had 2,250 tons of rice subsidized by
the central government in storage and was waiting for
instructions from Jakarta before distributing it to famine-
stricken areas.

The social affairs office, another institution sanctioned by
the government to distribute the humanitarian aid, has not yet
made any move to help, much to Fuad's disappointment.

"Must we wait for our superintendent's permit if victims start
falling? You must take the initiative in coping with this
matter," Fuad told local officials. (28)