300,000 people living in camps

300,000 people living in camps

JAKARTA: Approximately 300,000 people are living in refugee
camps across the country, a senior minister says, adding that the
government hopes to repatriate all of them by October.

Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah said on Friday
the majority of the refugees were in Maluku and North Maluku.

"The refugees will be given three options -- return to their
home villages, stay in the refugee camps or transmigrate to
another island," Bachtiar said, adding that those who chose to
return to their homes would receive Rp 8.7 million per family,
while those who decided to stay in the camps would get working
capital.

Acting coordinating minister for people's welfare A. Malik
Fadjar said the government repatriated some 1.3 million refugees
from 2001 to 2004. --JP